Indonesia Intensifying Aquaculture Projects To Boost Food Security, Exports

By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil

JAKARTA, May 23 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is intensifying efforts to strengthen food security and self-sufficiency through the expansion of large-scale aquaculture and other productive projects to boost job creation and export revenue.

President Prabowo Subianto said the government is developing shrimp and fish farming projects in several regions, including a 2,000-hectare project in Waingapu, East Nusa Tenggara province, a 200-hectare project in Gorontalo province on Sulawesi island, and a 1,000-hectare fish farming project in Pantura, in West Java.

“We will build productive projects that generate protein for our people and also for export so that we can earn foreign exchange,” he said in his remarks during a visit to the Area-Based Shrimp Farming Centre (BUBK) in Kebumen, Central Java, on Saturday.

The Kebumen shrimp farming project, which has been operating for about three years, is capable of producing up to 40 tonnes per hectare and currently employs about 650 local workers.

Prabowo said Indonesia had so far achieved self-sufficiency in several food commodities, including rice, corn and chicken eggs, while the government was still working towards achieving meat self-sufficiency within the next four to five years.

He said the government planned to accelerate productive development projects in the coming months that aimed at creating jobs, generating added value, increasing the nation’s wealth and raising people’s incomes.

-- BERNAMA