The use of Indonesia’s Sea Toll program is associated with higher production and household income among chayote farmers in Fakfak Regency, Southwest Papua. This finding comes from a 2026 study by Waode Maya E, Agus I. Sumule, and Agatha W. Widati of Universitas Papua. The researchers compared households that used the Sea Toll system to distribute their harvests with those that did not. The results show that wider interregional distribution access is associated with increased production, broader market opportunities, and higher farmer revenue.
Sea Toll Opens Access to Wider
Markets
Chayote, scientifically known as Sechium
edule, is one of the horticultural commodities cultivated in Fakfak
Regency. The crop is relatively easy to grow, adapts well to local agroclimatic
conditions, and can be harvested repeatedly during a growing season. These
characteristics make chayote a potential source of income for farming
households.
Fakfak is also the leading
chayote-producing area in Southwest Papua. Data cited in the study show that
Fakfak produced 1,125 quintals of chayote in 2025, accounting for approximately
39.19 percent of total chayote production in Southwest Papua. The commodity is
marketed not only within Fakfak but also to other areas, including Sorong and
Timika.
However, transporting
agricultural products from eastern Indonesia remains challenging because of
high logistics costs and limited market access. Farmers who depend solely on
local markets also face the risk of limited market absorption and fluctuating prices.
This is where the Sea Toll
program becomes important. The program was designed to strengthen inter-island
connectivity and reduce logistics costs, particularly in disadvantaged,
frontier, and outermost regions. However, its benefits do not automatically reach
every farmer because some still face limitations in information, access, and
marketing networks.
Study Involved 30
Chayote-Farming Households
The study was conducted for one
month in Kayuni and Kramamongga districts, two areas in Fakfak with a
relatively large number of chayote farmers. The researchers used a descriptive
quantitative approach, collecting primary data through observations, interviews,
and questionnaires. Secondary data were obtained from relevant government
agencies, including the Central Statistics Agency, the Trade Office, and the
Fakfak Port Authority.
A total of 30 farming households
participated in the study. The researchers then compared the production and
revenue of farmers who used the Sea Toll system with those who did not. Revenue
was calculated based on the quantity of chayote produced multiplied by its
selling price.
Most respondents were of
productive age. Twenty-one farmers, or 70 percent of the respondents, were
between 34 and 55 years old. In terms of farming experience, 80 percent had
been farming for more than 15 years. However, their farming operations were generally
small-scale, with 53 percent cultivating less than 0.5 hectares of land.
Sea Toll Users Recorded Higher
Production
The most notable difference was
found in monthly production. Farmers using the Sea Toll system produced an
average of 2,260.95 kilograms of chayote per month. By comparison, farmers who
did not use the Sea Toll system produced an average of only 1,404.44 kilograms
per month.
Among Sea Toll users, minimum
monthly production was 2,040 kilograms and maximum production was 2,400
kilograms. Among non-users, production ranged from 480 kilograms to 2,240
kilograms per month.
According to Waode Maya E, Agus
I. Sumule, and Agatha W. Widati of Universitas Papua, wider market access
provides farmers with greater opportunities to increase production because
their products can be marketed outside the region. The researchers also noted
that the production difference was not necessarily caused by distribution
access alone. Land size also played a role. Farmers using the Sea Toll system
cultivated an average of 0.46 hectares, compared with 0.38 hectares among
non-users.
Average Revenue Difference
Exceeds Rp5 Million per Month
The difference in production was
accompanied by a difference in household revenue.
Farmers using the Sea Toll system
recorded average monthly revenue of Rp16,619,048. Meanwhile, farmers who did
not use the system received an average of Rp11,235,556 per month. The study
reports a difference of approximately 32.4 percent between the two groups.
Interestingly, the selling price
paid by collectors for chayote shipped to other regions was actually lower, at
around Rp6,000–Rp7,000 per kilogram. In local markets, the price could reach
Rp8,000 per kilogram. Despite the lower price, farmers continued selling
through collector networks connected to the Sea Toll system because larger
volumes could be absorbed by the wider market.
The finding shows that farmer
revenue is not determined solely by the price received per kilogram. The
ability to sell larger quantities and reach broader markets can also be an
important factor.
Implications for Farmers and
Distribution Policy
For small-scale farmers, the
findings indicate that market access can be just as important as increasing
production on the farm. Even though most farmers in the study cultivated less
than 0.5 hectares, access to interregional distribution still created opportunities
to increase revenue.
For policymakers, the researchers
recommend strengthening support for distribution systems and access to market
information. Such policies are important to ensure that the Sea Toll program
functions not merely as transportation infrastructure but as a practical
distribution channel that farmers can use to expand the market for their
agricultural products.
However, the findings should be
interpreted within the scope of the study. The research involved only 30
farming households in two districts of Fakfak and used descriptive analysis.
Therefore, the results demonstrate differences between Sea Toll users and
non-users, but the article does not report a statistical analysis establishing
that the Sea Toll system was the sole cause of the differences in farmer
income.
Author Profiles
Waode Maya E — Universitas
Papua. The first author of the article, whose research in this study focuses on
agricultural economics and farming households.
Agus I. Sumule —
Universitas Papua. The second author, contributing to the analysis of household
income differences associated with the use of the Sea Toll distribution system.
Agatha W. Widati —
Universitas Papua. The third author and corresponding author of the article.
Research Source
Title: Household Income
of Chayote Farmers in Fakfak Regency (Case: Utilizing and Not Utilizing the Sea
Toll)
Authors: Waode Maya E,
Agus I. Sumule, Agatha W. Widati
Affiliation: Universitas
Papua
Journal: International
Journal of Integrative Research (IJIR)
Volume: 4, No. 7
Year: 2026
Pages: 497–506
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijir.v4i7.185
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