Analysis of Seaweed Farmer Terms of Trade in North Dullah Island District, Tual City, Maluku

Abstract

Seaweed farming is an important livelihood for coastal households in Tual City, but farm feasibility does not necessarily reflect household economic capacity. This study aimed to analyze the socioeconomic and farm characteristics of seaweed farmers, revenue and cost structures, net income, farm feasibility, the farming-income terms-of-trade index, and the Seaweed Farmer Terms of Trade (NTPR) in North Dullah Island District, Tual City, Maluku Province. A quantitative descriptive approach with a cross-sectional survey design was applied to all 39 active farmers using saturated sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews and field observations, and all economic components were standardized to an annual period. Farmers were predominantly aged 50 years and older, with an average farming experience of 17.51 years, while seed shortage was the main constraint (53.85%). Average annual farm revenue was IDR 28,544,808, total farm cost was IDR 8,212,885, and net income was IDR 20,331,923. An R/C ratio of 3.48 and a farming-income terms-of-trade value of 347.56 showed that farm revenue exceeded farm costs. However, after farm costs and household consumption were included, total household expenditure reached IDR 47,457,500 per year and NTPR was only 60.15, indicating that recorded revenue was insufficient to cover total farm and household consumption expenditures. Improving NTPR requires stronger seed systems, greater cost efficiency, higher productivity and product quality, stronger market access and institutions, and diversification of household income.