Mariani

A courageous seaweed farmer named Ibu Mariani lives in the seaside town of Bau-Bau. She set out on her adventure only two years ago. She carefully tends to her cherished crop—the dried purple seaweed—a beautiful sight and a source of food as the tides rise and fall. A modest house with a corrugated iron roof now serves as her drying facility, a monument to her perseverance. Upon our arrival, we were able to observe Ibu Mariani’s work of love—the careful hanging of her newly gathered seaweed to dry in the warm sun. As time goes on, local collectors will receive her bounty, which ranges in price from IDR 15,000/kg ($0.94), in a transaction that is based on strong community ties. Her livelihood is dependent on the fluctuations of the weather and crop output, which she negotiates with each harvest. Yet, amidst the challenges, Ibu Mariani finds solace in the knowledge that her seaweed business not only sustains her family but also nurtures her children’s dreams of higher education, a testament to the resilience and spirit of the coastal dwellers.