According to a Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries official, the Indonesian government is working to improve the welfare of small-scale fish farmers through the top commodity-based development program.
Pisciculture will be developed over the next three to four years based on the top commodities, with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries preparing two breakthrough plans, said Director General of Fisheries Cultivation Haeru Rahayu in a statement read aloud by Director of Seedlings Nono Hartanto at an event here on Thursday.
The first game-changing initiative, according to Rahayu, is aquaculture development for leading fishery commodities that are largely exported, such as shrimp, lobster, crab, and seaweed.
The second major goal is the development of aquaculture communities based on local knowledge, with showcase commodities in the deep sea, freshwater, brackish water, and coastal areas.
According to the statement, 70 percent of aquaculture fisheries producers fall into the small-scale category due to the size of their production area, access to capital, and restricted use of technology.
According to Rahayu, this high proportion of small-scale fish farmers has made it difficult for the aquaculture sector to meet national protein and food security requirements.
He explained that the government is now executing the programs in six provinces, including West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, and West Nusa Tenggara, through contests and incentives.
Rahayu feels that the programs will be extremely beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic recovery period.
Furthermore, these programs are aligned with the Indonesian government’s objective to improve the welfare of small-scale fish farmers while also bolstering the practices of applied technology for a sustainable production process, according to Rahayu.
“The balance between environment and economy will be the key foundation in developing sustainable aquaculture firms that boost the welfare of communities,” he said.
Rahayu reaffirmed the Indonesian government’s commitment to continuing to open multi-stakeholder cooperation and investment with partners concerned about Indonesia’s aquaculture progress.
Source: Antara
