The Aquaculture Production Business Service Center in Cilebar sub-district, Karawang district, West Java, Indonesia, is sponsoring the construction of a tilapia farming cluster model by the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). Covering 16 hectares, this initiative aims to boost the development of tilapia farming in the region.
As reported by the Antara agency, through this project, the government is trying to support aquaculture activities in Indonesia. Moreover, at the same time, this initiative seeks to address the continuing decline of fishing industry operators in the lakes.
"We aim to complete the project construction in two months, so we can immediately make it operational," said, Haeru Rahayu, General Director of Aquaculture at the KKP Ministry. "Hopefully, the people, especially those from industrial groups, can emulate this model."
Rahayu explained that the selection of tilapia was because of its economic projection. Nowadays, tilapia has an extremely promising market, which reached a value of almost USD 14 billion (EUR 12,69 billion) this year.
"We hope that the people will be stimulated to replicate this cultivation system, so they can increase their productivity." In a statement reported by Antara, Rhayu clarified that he expects them to focus specifically on the cultivation of saline tilapia.
Meanwhile, Karawang BLUPPB chief M. Tahang reported that the ministry is building a tilapia farming model consisting of reservoirs, maintenance plots, inlets, outlets, and a waste management system. "The initial investment for this 16-hectare land is worth Rp11 billion (EUR 664 thousand/USD 732 thousand) in total, which will be able to generate approximately Rp20 billion (EUR 1,18 million/USD 1,3 million)," Antara reported.
Previously, the ponds in the area were used for shrimp farming, so it will take the ministry two months to complete the construction of the cluster model. Thus, consequently, harvesting activity will be working for March or April 2024.