Rumput Laut (Kappaphycus Alvarezii) sebagai Komoditas Unggulan dalam Meningkatkan Nilai Tambah Bagi Kesejahteraan Masyarakat Di Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur [Seaweed (Kappaphycus Alvarezii) as Potential Commodity in Added Value Development for The Prosperity of Sumba Timur Regency Communities, Nusa Tenggara Timur Province]

Abstrak Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui distribusi nilai tambah di antara tiga stakeholder utama pada usaha budidaya rumput laut di Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), yaitu pembudidaya, pedagang dan industri rumput laut telah dilakukan. Data kualitatif dan kuantitatif diperoleh lewat survei, observasi langsung, wawancara dan diskusi kelompok (Focus Group Discussion, FGD). Sampel/unit usaha budidaya rumput laut diambil secara representative dan purposive. Data yang dikumpulkan dianalisis secara deskriptif disertai perhitungan Pay Back Period (PBP), Break Even Point (BEP) dan Benefit Cost ratio (B/C). Hasil menunjukkan nilai PBP = 0,72 yang berarti unit usaha dapat mengembalikan modal dalam 8 bulan. Nilai BEP per unit usaha budidaya rumput laut sebesar Rp. 3.435,77 dan BEP produksi sebesar 2.007,50 kg. Nilai B/C ratio 1.09 menunjukkan bahwa usaha rumput laut di lokasi study layak dilaksanakan. Nilai tambah pada pembudidaya sebesar Rp 3.575/kg, pedagang sebesar Rp 2.175/kg dan industri rumput laut sebesar Rp 41.000/kg. Hasil penelitian ini memberikan kesimpulan bahwa pada tingkat kelayakan usaha budidaya rumput laut di NTT dewasa ini, nilai tambah tertinggi dinikmati oleh industri pengolahan rumput laut, diikuti pembudidaya dan pedagang. Abstract This study aims to determine the distribution of value added among the three main stakeholders in seaweed farming in the Province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), namely the farmers, traders and seaweed industries. The study applied a qualitative and quantitative method through a survey, direct observation, and interviews. Data were representatively and purposively collected. The study used descriptive analysis, focus group discussion, and simple mathematics. Results showed that payback period was 0.72 meaning that the investment could be returned in 8 months; break-even point (BEP) per seaweed culture business unit was IDR. 3,435.77; the break-even point of production was 2,007.50 kg; benefit-cost (B/C) was 1.09 meaning that the seaweed culture was feasible to do. There were 3 successive seaweed marketing channels such as producer, collector, merchant, manufacturer, consumer, or direct delivery from producers to consumers, producer to collecting merchant, big merchant to the consumer. The added value was IDR. 3,575/kg for the seaweed farmer, IDR. 2,175/kg for big merchant, and IDR. 41,000/kg for seaweed industry.