Socioeconomic feasibility of biocatalyst technology in salt farming: insights from West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

The adoption of biocatalyst technology in salt farming holds significant potential to enhance productivity and sustainability, particularly within traditional salt-producing regions such as West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. This study investigates the socioeconomic feasibility of this technology across three major production areas—Bima, East Lombok, and West Lombok—using a comprehensive framework that evaluates environmental, social, technological, economic, and institutional dimensions. By employing a mixed-methods approach that integrates RAPFISH-based quantitative analysis and qualitative data from farmer surveys and expert interviews, the research identifies critical disparities in readiness across the regions. Key challenges include limited laboratory infrastructure, inadequate training, weak institutional coordination, and economic uncertainties tied to unstable salt pricing mechanisms. Leverage analysis highlights access to laboratories, farmer education, and well-structured incentive schemes as pivotal to improving adoption capacity. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the role of gender-sensitive approaches in addressing barriers faced by women-headed households. Based on these findings, the study recommends targeted policies such as capacity-building programs, inclusive extension models, and robust public–private partnerships to enable wider adoption of biocatalyst innovations. Insights from this study provide a transferable model for sustainable salt farming innovation in similar coastal contexts worldwide.