Head of the West Sumatra Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office Desniarti stated in Padang on Wednesday that the initiative was funded by the central government through the ministry.
"The factory has been completed. Hopefully, it can operate soon to support freshwater fish centers in Pasaman," she remarked.
The factory, built on an area spanning three thousand square meters, can produce eight tons of fish feed per hour, supplying some stock to meet the feed needs for fish in that area.
"As the center of freshwater fish, Pasaman fish production can go up to 58 thousand tons per year. All along, the feed had been imported. With this factory, some of the needs can be met," she noted.
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Desniarti expects that the factory would boost the freshwater fish production and benefit fish farmers.
"If the fish feed factory is close, surely there is some budget that can be cut. We expect that this would offer direct benefit to Pasaman's fish farmers," she remarked.
Desniarti stated that the Gelam-Jambi River Freshwater Aquaculture Fishery Center (BPBAT) would conduct the initial stage of the factory operation and once there were sufficient human resources, it would be handed over to the fish seed agency (BBI), South Rao District.
In its Decree Number 64 of 2021, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has designated six districts for the aquaculture village initiative, each with different cultivation focuses.
The areas comprise Pasaman District, West Sumatra; Ogan Komering Hulu District, South Sumatra; Pati District, Central Java; Gresik District, Central Java; Kupang District, East Nusa Tenggara; and East Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara.
Establishment of the fish feed factory in Pasaman District is a follow up to the ministry's decree.
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Translator: Miko Elfisha, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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