Lebak Regency Government optimistic KNMP will drive coastal economy

The Lebak Regency Government in Banten is optimistic that the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) will become an economic driver and be able to improve the welfare of coastal communities.

Head of the Lebak Regency Fisheries Office, Winda Triana, said in a statement in Lebak on Friday that the KNMP programme, initiated by President Prabowo Subianto, is a national strategic programme that integrates the fishing ecosystem, cooperatives and markets to improve the welfare of fishermen and coastal communities.

Many fishermen and coastal communities in southern Lebak still face poverty, especially during bad weather when fishermen in the area are unable to go to sea.

Therefore, KNMP is designed to strengthen the economic activities of fishermen through cooperative-based and market-based management.

“Thus, the Kampung Nelayan concept is expected to reduce the national poverty rate to 4 percent to 4.5 percent by 2029,” she explained.

According to Winda, the KNMP programme can play a role in reducing poverty through the provision of integrated infrastructure facilities in the form of a cold chain, namely cold storage for storing caught fish.

In addition, there will also be the construction of a Fish Auction Site (TPI), a Fishermen’s Fuel Filling Station (SPBN), fishing facilities and others.

The construction of KNMP in 2026 in Lebak Regency is spread across Muara Village, Bayah Barat, Darmasari, Sawarna and Cireunde.

“All KNMP facilities are intended to improve the economy of fishermen and coastal communities,” said the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) alumna.

She said the KNMP programme does not only encourage fishermen to sell raw fish, but also to process derivative products at culinary centres.

Currently, she said, culinary crafts using caught fish as raw materials in the southern coast of Lebak are growing and developing, such as fish crackers, fish meatballs, grilled fish, fish soup, fish floss and others.

In fact, the “Bu Bedah” fish floss from Binuangeun, Lebak Regency, has penetrated domestic and international markets.

“The business turnover from caught fish can reach billions of rupiah per year,” she explained.

In fact, she said, the Kampung Nelayan programme does not stop at physical development alone, but becomes a resilient modern fisheries business model through professional post-harvest business management, independence and strengthening of local institutions.

In addition, it is also integrated with food security, economic equity and poverty alleviation.

“We believe the KNMP concept can drive the economy of fishermen and coastal communities,” she explained.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Karya Mandiri Joint Business Group (Kube) in Wanasalam District, Lebak Regency, Bedah, said that the production of tuna and marlin fish floss from catches off the southern coast of Lebak has penetrated domestic and international markets through a company from Jakarta.

Currently, market demand is quite high because the product has advantages, including being able to last eight months without preservatives, as well as having a crunchy, savoury, delicious taste and a fairly high protein content.

“We can supply up to two tonnes of fish floss per month at a price of Rp150,000 per kilogram,” she explained.