The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has launched aquaculture village in South Sulawesi Province. The development of the aquaculture village is expected to motivate cultivators to try harder with the support of a synergy between the government, stakeholders and the community. The Director General of Aquaculture, Tb Haeru Rahayu, said this activity was carried out in order to oversee one of the KKP's breakthrough programs, namely the construction of aquaculture villages based on local wisdom commodities, which this year have been set at 130 locations throughout Indonesia, one of which is in Pangkep Regency. "I know exactly that the quality of milkfish in South Sulawesi is one of the best in Indonesia, so I believe it is very possible to increase the production and income of farmers, especially in Pangkep Regency," Tebe said in a written statement received on Monday (18/4/2022). With the support of all parties, Tebe believes that along with the increase in productivity and quality produced, Pangkep milkfish can go international as one of the commodities that are routinely exported. KKP is also ready to provide support through the Fish Quarantine, Quality Control and Safety of Fishery Products (BKIPM) by picking up balls for aquaculture business actors to service export requirements such as certification. In addition, Tebe also hopes that if there is an increase in commodity prices, it should be able to directly touch cultivators so that the welfare of cultivators can be raised. For this reason, the KKP has also prepared a scheme that can cut the long trade chain by using technology that can be applied by the community. "This momentum is a good first step so that the economy in the community can grow faster in a positive way," concluded Tebe.
In addition to launching a farming fishing village, KKP also provided assistance in the form of milkfish seeds, tilapia seeds, tiger prawn fry and vaname shrimp to cultivators in South Sulawesi province, as well as symbolic distribution of seeds in community-owned ponds. The total amount of seed assistance that was handed over was 9,140,000 heads. Meanwhile, the Head of BPBAP Takalar, Nur Muflich Juniyanto, said that in addition to conducting periodic technical guidance and conducting regular monitoring and evaluation, BPBAP Takalar also synergizes government assistance that has been determined to be able to support the aquaculture village program. "In addition, we have also coordinated with extension workers, stakeholders and other stakeholders, because we believe the synergy of all supporting elements is the key to the success and sustainability of this program," concluded Anto. The Head of the Pangkep Regency Fisheries Service, Kusmawati, expressed her gratitude to the KKP for choosing Pangkep Regency as one of the implementers of the Aquaculture Village Program for the 2022 fiscal year. She believes that the potential area for brackish water ponds of 13 thousand hectares spread across seven sub-districts, including one in Labakkang District, can be maximized for commodities such as milkfish which has a distinctive taste and has been well-known for a long time. "Hopefully we can carry out this mandate properly according to our shared expectations in order to realize the welfare of the community in general and the welfare of aquaculture actors in particular," concluded Kusmawati.
According to data from the Pangkep District Fisheries Service, the Milkfish Cultivation Villages in Bontomanai Village and Manakku Village have an area of approximately 1,110 hectares of cultivated land with an average area per unit of cultivation pond reaching 700 m2. Temporary data records that the total production generated from the two villages in 2021 will reach 1,300 tons with a turnover of IDR 26 billion per year. Meanwhile, the Head of the Prosperous Milkfish Pokdakan from Manakku Village, Junaedi, was grateful for the declaration of the milkfish cultivation village in his village, because according to him the potential that could be developed was still very large, especially the demand for the local market was quite large, even Pangkep Regency had a special auction for milkfish. "For the advancement of the milkfish cultivation village in our village, we hope for support from the central and regional governments for obstacles such as silting of channels, so that our production can continue to increase. We hope in the future that milkfish cultivation can be maximized and can meet market needs up to the export market, "said Junaedi. Previously, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, had set three priority KKP programs, one of which was the development of aquaculture villages based on local wisdom. According to him, there are three categories, namely inland aquaculture villages for freshwater commodities; coastal aquaculture village for brackish commodities; as well as marine aquaculture village.
