Research on World Agricultural Economy

Demonstration Plots, New Technology Adoption, and Production Performance in Indonesia’s Largest Evaporation Salt Farming

Campina Illa Prihantini

Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry, Universitas Sembilanbelas November Kolaka, Kolaka 93517, Indonesia

Yuli Purbaningsih

Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry, Universitas Sembilanbelas November Kolaka, Kolaka 93517, Indonesia

Faizal Amir

Sharia Economics, Faculty of Islamic Science, University of Trunojoyo Madura, Bangkalan 69162, Indonesia

Mery Berlian

Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Sains and Technology, Indonesia Open University, Tangerang 15437, Indonesia

Deby Ananda Difah

Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Sains and Technology, Indonesia Open University, Tangerang 15437, Indonesia

Masitah

Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry, Universitas Sembilanbelas November Kolaka, Kolaka 93517, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v7i3.2878

Received: 31 October 2025 | Revised: 23 December 2025 | Accepted: 6 January 2026 | Published Online: 22 July 2026

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Abstract

The introduction of new production technologies, called geomembrane, is one of the Indonesian government’s national policies aimed at improving the quality and quantity of domestic salt production while supporting the national self-sufficiency program. Madura Island, the largest producer of evaporated salt in Indonesia, was the first location targeted for this policy implementation. Using cross-sectional data from the 2023–2024 salt production season, this study randomly collected information from 215 small- to medium-scale salt farmers on Madura Island. The research highlighted the importance of ensuring salt farmers’ access to demplots to encourage wider adoption of geomembrane technology and its impact on salt production performance. Production performance was measured using technical efficiency and land productivity indicators. The findings reveal that salt farmers’ access to geomembrane demonstration plots remains limited, with only 29% of farmers reporting such access. Interestingly, access to demonstration plots exhibited an anomalous relationship with production performance: while technical efficiency showed a positive correlation, land productivity demonstrated a negative association. This research concluded that the demonstration plots provide significant differences in technical efficiency and productivity. The study recommends that the Indonesian government, through the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Agency, should continue providing training, outreach, and technological introductions to salt farmers to expand demonstration plot access to increase the adoption rate of geomembrane technology. Demonstration plots should be situated near impoverished communities that rely on traditional salt production methods or in locations traditionally designated for pilot programs to ensure productivity gains for marginalized and low-income households.

Keywords: Demonstration Plots; New Technology Adoption; Production Performance; Technical Efficiency; Pro‑ ductivity

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