I want to pursue the targets given by the governmentKebumen, Central Java (ANTARA) - The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has expressed its commitment to pursuing its targets, including the production of two million tons of shrimp by 2024.
"I want to pursue the targets given by the government. When I was sworn into office as Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, there was a target set for 2024, (of) producing 2 million tons of shrimp on a national scale," Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Wahyu Sakti Trenggono said in Kebumen, Central Java, on Tuesday.
He was visiting a shrimp cultivation pond in the area.
The minister said that as an effort toward meeting the goal, region-based shrimp ponds are being established, which can be emulated by other business players as well as the general public.
To create a good shrimp pond, which can have good production, the selected site must be located far away from human settlements and the water must be clean as well, he added.
"Close proximity to human settlements—that must be avoided. Because when many get near the cultivation ponds, there is a risk of (them spreading) viruses, bacteria. Good cultivation must be done in a place thoroughly free from pollutants," he explained.
According to his administration's review, Kebumen meets the requirements for establishing a cultivation site, he noted.
The pond, built on 100 hectares of land, has supporting facilities such as water intake, wastewater disposal installation, water tanks, shrimp seed health checks, as well as a laboratory to check water quality, Trenggono elaborated.
He also reminded that shrimps need to be routinely cared for.
The minister said he expects that the pilot project will go accordingly and have a positive impact on the state.
On the same occasion, the head of Kebumen district, Arif Sugiyanto, stated that the cultivation pond would benefit the locals.
"With this cultivation pond, thank God, the workforce here, more or less 90 percent of them prefer to work at the cultivation ponds. The people are trained by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry through its Jepara Brackish Water Cultivation Fisheries Center. After they have the knowledge, they work here," he added.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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