Abstract:
Seaweed started to attract the attention of international consumers when people's
awareness about healthy food and urban lifestyle emerged. The urban lifestyle is also
inspired by culinary delights from Japan and Korea which are made from seaweed.
This situation has led to an increase in demand for seaweed and cause local
communities are interesting in cultivating seaweed. This study aims to (1) describe the
social aspects of seaweed farming, and (2) describe the economic aspects of seaweed
farming. This research was conducted at the largest producer of seaweed in
Bulukumba Regency South Sulawesi. Data was collected through a survey of seaweed
farmers. The results of this study indicate that (1) On the social aspect, farmers
generally finished junior and senior high school level. The kinship between farmers is
very strong, especially the behavior of helping each other when there is an urgent need.
(2) On the economic dimension, famers’s income is highly dependent on the length of
the stretched rope, plant density, production, and the price set. From the economic
analysis it is known that in a harvest season with a price level of IDR 17.447/kg,
farmers earn an average income of IDR 41,577,543 per season with a rope length of
487,7 meters
