TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP), in cooperation with the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD), distributed 40,000 fish seeds to farmers in order to boost fish farming production in Tanah Bumbu District, South Kalimantan.

"Food resilience, especially for protein-based food, has become the focus of the Marine Affairs and Forestry Ministry amid the COVID-19 pandemic," the ministry's Director General for Fish Farming, Slamet Soebijakto, noted in a statement here on Saturday.

Soebijakto highlighted the need for the ministry to synergize with other institutions to expedite the development of sustainable and competitive fish farming.

The fish seeds distributed comprised 15,000 of nile tilapia and 25 thousand of catfish.

The ministry additionally distributed 90,500 local fish seeds for restocking at a retention basin in Sumber Makmur Village in the district, comprising 55 thousand of the sultan (hoven's carp) fish, 5,500 of baung fish (Hemibagrus), and 30 thousand of the papuyu (climbing perch) fish.

"Distributing fish seeds to regions is our commitment to materializing national food resilience, and it was supported by the Indonesian Military's community service program of TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD)," Soebijakto remarked.

Fish restocking in the public water reservoir has also become the ministry's priority agenda to boost national fish farming production and establish food resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the Fresh Water Fish Farming Agency (BPBAT) in Mandiangin, South Kalimantan is conducting seed engineering development of local species, including the sultan fish, baung, and papuyu fish.

Head of BPBAT Mandiangin Andy Artha Donny remarked that the three species are among the popular fresh water fish varieties in the region.

"We are optimistic of being able to maintain food resilience, especially for the consumption of fish and preserving the balance of nature," Donny added.

Read also: Ministry Encourages Fish Farmers to Produce Feed

ANTARA