Amuntai, S Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalsel) - The North Hulu Sungai, South Kalimantan, Fisheries Agency is trying to revive some suspended cage fish cultivation due to expensive fish feed prices and extreme weather.
Acting Head of the Fisheries Agency Ismarlita in Amuntai said on Thursday that the fishermen who suspended production would receive seed and fish feed assistance from a special allocation fund (DAK).
"There are four groups of cage fish farmers who receive DAK assistance in the form of seeds and fish feed, which are expected to be able to reactivate their business," said Ismarlita.
Ismarlita said that fishermen who received assistance are those who still had fish cultivation facilities and infrastructure, such as cages, floating nets and so on.
Many proposals from groups of fishermen entered the agency requested assistance for facilities and infrastructure, including seeds and fish feed. The agency will first review the facilities owned by the fishermen group to determine the type of assistance and the amount.
He admitted, some cage fish farmers stopped operating, even switched job. The reason is the price of feed continues to increase to reach Rp460 thousand per fifty kg.
Ismarlita said that the agency actually motivated farmers to use swamp land for pond fish farming through a mesh system, because of lower production costs and benefits.
"But some of our farmers are still interested in cultivating fish in cages, maybe because of other considerations," he said.
