SHEEP Indonesia Foundation is working together with UKAW (Artha Wacana Christian University) Kupang to develop the Anaconda seaweed cultivation method in Sabu Raijua, NTT. This Anaconda technique aims to protect seaweed from various diseases as well as from fish and turtle attacks that can damage seaweed seedlings and inhibit their growth. In addition, this method also aims to reduce damage to seaweed due to currents and waves during the west season.
According to Sarif Hidayat, YSI Sabu Raijua area manager, this collaboration aims to address the problem of seaweed seed scarcity often experienced by seaweed farmers in Sabu Raijua, especially from December to April, after the west season. This makes the price of seaweed seeds jump up to 5 times the normal price. The Anaconda method uses a waring that resembles a round and long Anaconda snake, made of paralon or rattan to form a planting space. Currently, the Anaconda technique is focused on the Wuke Rohedui Community Based Organisation (CBO) in Jiwuwu village, Central Sabu District.
Sarif also stated that YSI is encouraging partners, including seaweed farmer groups, village governments, and relevant agencies, to jointly learn this technique so that it can be a solution to the seed scarcity that has been going on for years. Every time a shortage occurs the community has to buy seeds at a very high price, especially for ropes with a length of 20 fathoms (30 metres), which can reach 1.2 million rupiah compared to the normal price of around 250-300 thousand rupiah.
Berta Leba, chairperson of the Wuke Rohedui OMB expressed her appreciation to SHEEP Indonesia Foundation and FPIK UKAW Kupang for the training and support in developing the Anaconda technique. He said that the collaborative efforts have slowly provided a solution to the scarcity and high cost of seaweed seeds "Cooperative efforts have gradually been able to overcome the problem of seed scarcity that is almost every year experienced by seaweed farmers in Sabu Raijua District; Scarcity usually occurs from December to April after bad weather or known as the west season. As a result of this scarcity, the price of seedlings increases significantly, so that the initial capital for seaweed farmers becomes very large, even up to five times the normal price while seaweed is the main employment sector for coastal communities in 37 villages in Sabu Raijua Regency, and many of them depend on this work" he concluded.