Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of Kotabaru DPRD Dr. M Arif has begun to cultivate pond crabs to give an example to the local fishermen so as not to always depend of catching fish in the sea.
"Fishermen are required to innovate so they do not keep on depending on uncertain catches in the sea, one of which is by cultivating crabs in the ponds," he said in Kotabaru, Monday.
This Golkar cadre started fattening crabs, which were not export size, in a pond covering an area of about one hectare which is divided into several plots.
"Crabs measuring about 3 ounces are farmed in ponds. After about 2-3 weeks they can be harvested and ready to be sold," he said.
It is enough to feed the crabs with small fish purchased from the fishermen. Crabs that are kept for less than a month in the pond are ready to export.
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"Alhamdulillah, we buy the seeds for around IDR40,000 -IDR55,000 per kg. After harvesting we can sell them around IDR150,000 per kg, depending on how big and small the crab is," he said.
According to Arif, who is also a lawyer, this crab fattening activity is one of the efforts to educate fishermen not to give up easily in the face of difficulties in doing business.
"Insya Allah (God Willing) this crab fattening is the first in South Kalimantan, and hopefully fishermen in Kotabaru and its surroundings can take advantage of abandoned ponds to be re-managed so they can be productive," he said.
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