Targeting 40,000 Thematic Fish Farming Sites, Zulhas: Must Ensure Upstream-Downstream Integration

The Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs is accelerating the national development programme for thematic inland fish farming. This acceleration emphasises that progress must not be limited merely to the physical construction of ponds.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, asserted that the programme must establish a sustainable production ecosystem. The government aims to create 40,000 new farming locations by 2029.

“Forty thousand thematic farming locations will be developed,” Zulkifli stated in a written statement on Wednesday (16/09/2026).

The Minister, commonly known as Zulhas, reminded stakeholders of the importance of land availability and adequate supporting infrastructure. The certainty of the upstream to downstream ecosystem must be guaranteed to ensure maximum absorption of farmers’ harvests.

“Do not just build ponds. It must be ensured from upstream to downstream, including seeds, feed, financing, technology, and the market,” he emphasised.

In the initial implementation phase in 202lar, the government is targeting the development of 2,073 pilot locations. The distribution for this first phase focuses on six provinces: East Java, Central Java, DIY (Special Region of Yogyakarta), Banten, West Java, and Lampung.

Previously, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) successfully established 100 units of thematic biofloc farming ponds, distributed across four provinces on the island of Java.

The development of this programme is designed to expand the national fish production base to strengthen food security. Achieving independence in meeting the public’s protein needs is expected through easier access to nutritious food.

This strategic move is also believed to be able to unlock new sources of economic growth in various regions. The local potential of each area will be maximised to drive the economic wheels of the surrounding communities.