.kU-
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Research and Development Series No. 23
International Center for Aquaculture
Agricultural Experiment Station R. Dennis Rouse, Director
Contract AID/Asia-C-l 177 April 1979
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
_ _II_
__~_I_
CO0N TE NT S
Page
INTRODUCTION ................................................ 3
FRY'RESOURCE EVALUATION...................... i............... 3
POND FERTILIZATION PROCRAM............ ....................- 4
CREDIT ASSISTANCE................................... o......... 5
PROVINCIAL DEMONSTRATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM .............. 6
North Sumatra Province ............... o....................-6
Aceh Province .......... o............................... 7
STAFF TRAINING......................... .................... 8
PRODUCTION INCREASES... ........ ............................. 9
North Sumatra Province................................... 9
Aceh Province................................ o........... 9
MARKETING ................................. o..................9
PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS...................... ................ 10
EXPANSION PROGRAM................ ........... o.............. 10
PUBLISHED 4/79-1M
COVER PHOTO. Milkfish are sampled at 2-week intervals
during PFDU culture demonstrations to monitor fish growth
and to demonstrate improved farm management techniques.
Equipment f or the BFP project was provided through USAID
project funding.
Information contained herein is available to all without
regard to race, color, or national origin.
Brackishwater Aquaculture Development
in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
MICHAEL C. CREMER and BRYAN L. DUNCAN
INTRODUCTION
T HE GOVERNMENT OF INDONESIA (GOI) received techni-
cal assistance in brackishwater aquaculture development from
November 1976 to September 1978 through a contract between
the U.S. Agency for International Development and Auburn
University's International Center for Aquaculture. Contract
AID/Asia-C-1177 provided funds for resident advisors and
equipment to the Directorate General of Fisheries (DGF) for
fish culture development and extension in northern Sumatra.
The authors served in Medan, North Sumatra (Bryan L.
Duncan)
2
, and Banda Aceh, Aceh (Michael C. Cremer), from
November 1, 1976, to September 1, 1978, as advisors to the
Brackishwater Fishery Production Project (BFP).
Brackishwater pond culture has been practiced traditionally
for centuries in Indonesia, particularly in Java. It was initiated at
least 600 years ago as a mangrove swamp fishery using traps.
Gradually, the mangrove was removed, dikes were constructed,
water control structures were installed, and finally, the custom
was established of stocking the ponds with milkfish and shrimp
juveniles caught at sea.
In 1974, the DGF estimated that there 
were approximately
180,000 hectares of brackishwater ponds in Indonesia, located
mainly along the north coasts of Java, South Sulawesi, and
Sumatra. Production in these ponds had reached a plateau with
the use of traditional methods, and new and more productive
technology was not being adopted. During the Pelita I
development program (1969-74), the Government of Indonesia
concentrated efforts to improve brackishwater pond fisheries,
by using these two steps:
1. Adoption of new brackishwater methodology, using the
vehicle of a UNDP/FAO project at Jepara, Central Java, as a
base of operations for field trials.
2. Building of a staff base, through the use of local universities
and secondary schools, for extending improved technology to
existing and potential brackishwater fish farmers.
In 1974, as an expansion of the brackishwater development
effort for Pelita II (1974-79), the DGF chose Aceh and North
Sumatra provinces to be the first in a series of project sites where
packages of resources would be brought to bear in a concerted
effort to increase small farmer income and brackishwater
fisheries production. The DGF requested USAID to appriase the
idea, and in November 1974 H. R. Schmittou
3 
conducted a
survey of this area. He identified a high potential for aquaculture
'Respectively, Research Associate and Assistant Professor,
Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, International Center
for Aquaculture.
2
Dr. Duncan will remain in Indonesia for phase two of the project, an
extension of the North Sumatra subproject, until October 30,1979, while
Mr. Cremer returned to Auburn University in September 1978.
3
Resident advisor for the International Center for Aquaculture to the
USAID sponsored Inland Fisheries Project in the Philippines.
as a means to increase income, increase food production, and
expand employment. In May, June, and July 1975, a project
development team from the International Center for
Aquaculture, USAID, and the Government of Indonesia visited
the area and drafted a detailed project paper.
4 
The next year
(1976) Auburn University's International Center for
Aquaculture received a 2-year contract from USAID to assist the
Government of Indonesia to increase brackishwater (tambak)
fisheries production in seven kabupatens (districts) in the
provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra and to create an
infrastructure base upon which tambak expansion could take
place. Nine objectives were specified for the project:
1. Fry resources evaluated and improved capture and
distribution programs instituted.
2. Fertilizer utilization by fish farmers increased.
3. Lending by GOI Bank Rakyat for fish pond production and
development increased.
4. Provincial programs (demonstrations, training, and
extension) made operational with technical assistance.
5. Trained staff functioning with technology and
methodology for intensification outreach program.
6. Annual production from 4,800 hectares of existing tambaks
doubled, from approximately 500 kilograms to 1,000 kilograms
per hectare per year.
7. New employment created for agricultural and fishery
families.
8. Increased number and greater development roles achieved
for local producer associations.
9. GOI infrastructure in place and functional to handle
remaining intensification and projected expansion.
This report outlines progress toward achieving these
objectives during the initial 2-year project.
FRY RESOURCE EVALUATION
Fry supplies to support the brackishwater pond industry in
Indonesia come from naturally occurring stocks in coastal and
estuarine waters. Expansion and improvement of the local fry
capture and distribution sectors were identified as requirements
for intensifying production and expanding pond area in
northern Sumatra. As part of the BFP project, milkfish and
shrimp fry resources were evaluated for abundance and
seasonal availability in the coastal waters of North Sumatra and
Aceh. The goals were to increase the volume of fry catch
sufficient to double production and-to improve handling and
distribution methods so that 20 percent more of the captured fry
reached the terminal market.
In North Sumatra Province, surveys in 1974-76 by fishery
4
D. D. Moss, E. W. McCoy, J. H. Grover, and J. R. Snow, of the
International Center for Aquaculture, Auburn University, served as
technical consultants on the project development team.
uec p a v] I b a s ir I xa ad ,lIh onaIF en to t ransport,1 P pat;
reduced 'riiiAn~ rnwitaW le between captuze and pond shoosing.
biologists from the Bogor 'nstitute o' A quaculture, the Inlandl
Fisheries Research Institute, and the North Sumatra Fisheries
Senvice shoxwed milkfish fry xvere niot present in significant
numbers. Surxeys by BFP project pcrsonne ia 1976-78
confirmed a lack of milkfish fry in the Nirth Sumnatra area.
Exvalmation of shrimp postlarx ar resoumrces, huowcee, indicated
abundant juvenile shrimp alorg the coast. Shrimp surveys were
conducted periodically throughout the project, combined w ith
training programs for fishermen to teach gear construction,
capture techniques, and handling and selection of postlarx ac.
Approximately 1,115 man-days of effort xwere utilized in the
surxvey. Results thus far inidicate that the wh ite shrimps, Penacos
i ndicos and P. merguieonsis, are the most abundant species of
economic importance, xxhile the highly valued tiger praxxn, P.
inonodon, occurs in considerably loxxer numbers.
\Iilkfish fry surxveys conducted in .Aceh Proxvince during 1977
and 1978 identified frx capture grounds, sea sonal ax ailabilitv of
fry,. number of fry captured, total fry needis of Aceb. and
numhber of people employerd in the frx capture industry.
Fry collection grounds coxvering 296 kilomieters of coastline
wxere identified in kahupatens Ach Besar, Pidie, Aceb I ara
and Ach Tim or. Additiooai fry grounds we re identified
surrounding sexveral islands off the north coast of Aceb. These
islands, Pulau Webcl, Pulaui Ach, and Ihilto N asi, represent
largely untapp1ed sources for inilkfish I rx. A surxvcx along the
wxext coast of .Xceh Iceh Barat) also idcotificd potential col-
lection arecas. it is doubtful, hoxxever, tliit lr resources in Ach
Bai at can be utilizedi in the near future because of difficulties in
transporting frx to tish farming ar eas.
Surxvey data indicate milkfisb frx r C present along the Ach
coast from March to December. Peak abundance occurs during
April to June and October to Noxvember.
An estimated 121 mnillion iikfish fry xx crc captured in Aceb
coastal xxvaters during 1977. Approximiately 72 million frx are
rerquirerl annually by fish farmers in Ach for stocking coastal
tamoaks. The remaininga 49 million fry are oxvailable for sale to
fish farmters outside that province.
\hilkfish fry collecting, prov ided employ ment for an estimated
3,424 people during 1978. Fry collectors included housexxixves,
artisanal fishermecn, tamobak laborers, students, rice farmers, and
unemployed persons.
A surxvcx of juxvenile shrimp was conducted in Aceh by BFP
project staff in 1977. Shrimp juxveniles were found in coastal
waters of four kabupatens. Species, identified wxere Panoeus
indicuox P. inerginsis, P. monodon, P. nmooeros, P. semisul-
cot, awl Metapeiueos sp. Species available in greatest number
wxere P. indicous and P. merguiensis, both of wxhich are cultured
for local and export markets by tceh fish farmers. P. monodon is
also commercially cultured, but represents less than 10 percent
of shrimp production From tambaks.
A program to improv e miLkfish fry capture and distribution
methods xxas conducted in Aceb during the second vear.
Modified capture gear wxas given to selected milkfish fry
collectors for testing. Fexx collectors responded faxvorably to the
modified gear because of high purchase cost and difficulties in
transporting the larger gear to and from the collection grounds.
A xsorkshop on fry handling and transporting was held in
Banda tceh in June 1978. Thirty-three representatixes of the
fisheries scrxvice and the fry capture industry participated.
improxed counting and handling techniques and the use of
plastic bags inflated xvith oxy gen for transporting fry we re
demonstiated as means of decreasing fry nmortalities. Fry
mortalities of 1-2 percent we re reported by distributors already
using plastic bags and oxy gen. Distributors using Jerry cans
xvithout oxy gen, the traditional method, reported average fry
mortalities of 20-30 percent. The use of plastic bags wxith oxy gen
enables transport of 10,000-11,000 fry in 6 liters of 
xxater,
compared wxith 3,000 fry in 15 liters of water wxhen using Jerry
cans.
Distribution of nxilkfish fry to regions outside of Aceb began
in June 1978 with the establishment of fry marketing between
Banda Aceh and Jakarta. Approximately 1.5 million mnilkfish fry
were sold to fish farmers in Java in June-August [978. Expansion
of the Jaxva market is expected in 1979, with anticipated sales of
5-10 mxillion fry.
The 1WF and the Aceb Fisheries Service have proposed
establishing a central fry market in Banda Aceb. It xxouid serve
as a collection and auction center for milkfish fry , and xx ould be
equipped with aerated holding basins, oxygen, and shipping
containers for transporting fry. Such a center xx ould simplify
marketing and distribution and reduce mortalitx of milkfish frx
fronm collectors to farmers.
POND FERTILIZATION PROGRAM
Organic and inorganic fertilizers are used in brackishxxater
fishpnds to increase soil and wxater fertility and to stimulate the
production of benthic algal communities as food for milkfish
and shrimp. Prior to August 1975, fish fariners could not
purchase inorganic fertilizer on the free market in Indonesia for
fishpond use. Pre-project discussions obtained a guarantee that
inorganic fertilizers wxould be made axvailable to fish farmers in
the free miarket at Hp. 120 per kilogramn (lip 415 - US S1.00). At
project implementation in October 1976, nexx COI policy had
mad~e inorganic fertilizers axvailable to fish farmers at the
goxverment regulated prices applicable to other agricultural
sectors. Prices for urea and triple superphosphate (Hp. 70 per
kilogram each) and diammonium phosphate (Hp. 90 per
kilogram) we re substantially beloxv the project goal of Hp. 120
per kilogram.
In Aceh Proxvince, urea, TSP, and DAP fertilizers are now
readily axvailable to fish farmers. 1'hrough project
demnonstrations and promotion, use of these fertilizers was
adopted by fish farmers as a management piractice to increase
fish production. Approximately 1,500-2,000 tons of inorganic
fertilizer are noxx used annually by Aceb fish farmers, surpassing
the piroject goal of 900 tons per year for the txwo provinces. In
addition, some 11,800 tons of organic fertilizer (primarily coxv
manure) are used annually to increase the fertility of ponds.
Fertilizer demand is expected to increase proportionally with
future production increases. Suppliers of inorganic fertilizers do
not anticipate difficulties in meeting the demand; however,
organic fertilizers are in short supply and are expected to
continue so.
CREDIT ASSISTANCE
Intensified fish production, as opposed to production using
traditional methods, requires the use of purchased inputs such as
fish ry, fertilizer, pesticides, and labor for pond renovation.
Funds for obtaining needed inputs are normally obtained
through credit. As a component of the BFP Project, the GOI
established a project life (2-year) credit line for fish pond loans
totaling Rp.891,779,000 (US 82,151,458) for short-term
production and Rp.329,533,000 (US$795,014) for capital
Simprovements. These funds were provided by Bank Indonesia
and administered through the provincial and local offices of
Bank Rakyat Indonesia. Technical assistance to the loan
program was provided by the long-term advisors, and by a
short-term consultant, E. W. McCoy.'
Cumulative credit granted for tambak development in North
Sumatra as of July 31, 1978, was Rp.50,375,000 granted to 138
individuals for expansion (construction of new ponds) and
Rp.4000,000 to tsxo individuals for intensification (increasing
S production in existing ponds). It is expected that during the third
Year of the North Sumatra sub-project, during which expansion
W activities are scheduled to begin, there will be an increase in
bank credit utilization.
In Aceh, from April 1976 to July 1978, intensification loans
totaling Rp.
50 3
,861,000 were granted to 576 farmers for
approximately 2,005 hectares of tambak. A substantially greater
amount of credit could have been utilized had it been made
available. Credit requirements should be reassessed to bring
allocations more closely in line with farmer needs. Credit
supervision programs would help to decrease high default rates
roject-ralned eiena a experienced in 
some areas of Aceh.
managemeni lechniquez, sh as ase c;'n nan ]a rs,
increase pond procdtLn.
Associa e Profess or, )epartmnent o Fisheries and Allied
Aquacultures, Internatiional Center for Aquaculture, Auburn University.
A A .2; .,,. 7
.A< >' A'
Improved gates, dikes, and pond design in a previously heavily forested pond complex were made possible through a loan program with Bank
Rakyat Indonesia. Fish farmers in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces received approximately Rp. 558,236,000 ($1,346,770) in production and
capital improvement loans during the SFP project.
PFDU Sialang iSuh in North Sumsirz ]a one oz7 eignt g:oIrrnen. 'ish fEarns 
I-s:uce2m demcnsftratng YNsh cuu~re 2echni ques 2o fish
larmers in S~ceh and Nort.h Sumatra prolnmces. 7hese P7:n.z Tsng' :7K2 from0I 7. heclares 11,,aler surtace 
arza, also se'ce as bases or7
ealiens~on agents 'vo'Cking wihindividual ear-ners and 
1
oZ'c dujca- as~ '
PROVINC]AL DEMONSbTRATDC JfyND
TRAINING LPROGRIi
Technical asstanee to sinai' holder fish farmer's v, as
prosvided through1 a -ro-viocia
1 
p)rogram atiig aLe saeg
goeoetfish 2isas Lis dernonstratio and extension 'en Lrm.
These centers, caY Ad Pros Mncall i4shery Demoanstration t' 4S
(PFD~is), pros ioed "bnildings and mnpourn cc ponds 'or
demnonstrating fiaten sified fish produetn cenniqjues. AL lei st
three fcarmer tin4ning sessions were rarrien out ncr sear. r
exterkonr agerts, recruited 
and trained'a inc !I,, BF7j'
utiluzed t'he PFD is as t aeir extenasin 'base. This renort
surnmari/es thi -Fl)" conistruct 'an and denn'ai s'ra
prograrn aid tihe extennsion cducatLiun ' rugr a durig Ltm'ex 2
years of the pro4ect.
Constiffiltin ofF the Sialang aPEDIU began in Nsvember
197-1 ndwq corn leted in\ Ma-, 2-7. Facilies incle a house,
a r'nr' cls<ron, and Cight c ds toia, 1'g P or ui 7 hecares in
surface area. Thae quality of corton 'areq nate. Problems
-rmaining ia' ide le-veling two of the pornds, impros ing he
r-nair ga e, a rling a well for 'reshw ate', conrui 'on of a
sioage sl-a a C n' ucjc 'ro or easier acces tr the
sit,. TIhe ' i S ,f fed6 Vx 0iwaaaii s w aoes n
fiv'ex cSf 1a&iILI. ".'he cxtenion' agents are now undergoing
supers se.Q or iF -jo training, L toe PFD29. Po ads were
stockec xi~f rnil-ish frrfufl -I ine and July 1978ai '. trning
anm irs for !'15 ''9rt Sumatraexc'(son agents wvas held at the
unit.
Housing, storage, and training facilities iuwee constructed at each of the PFDUs no 
aflowg fullfn staff superislon of project ecftitea and to
proviide classroom-, for- farmer trainng ;rogr'v& ,s.
Construction of the Babalan PFDU began in December 1977.
The contractor completed work in June 1978. Problems remain,
however, which seriously limit the usefulness of this PFDU. The
main dikes and main gate mustbe higher and wider to withstand
high tidal inundations characteristic of the area. To correct this
defect, earth must be obtained from sources outside of the site
inasmuch as the ponds cannot be further excavated. This unit is
prone to excessive leakage because of an abundance of organic
debris in the soil, which also contributes to excessive and uneven
settling of the dikes and occasional collapse of dike sections.
This could have been prevented had the topsoil been removed
from the dike path before the dike formation was constructed,
and had the dikes been cored with impervious clay. Attempts
were made to change the site once it became obvious that many
problems w ould be encountered. Obstacles to making a change
appeared insurmountable from an administrative viexwpoint,
however, and the decision was made to continue developing the
site with a realization of the problems that would be
encountered. Considerable development must still be done to
make the Babaian PFDU fully operational.
The PFDU originally planned to be built at Perupuk was
successfully changed to a more favorable location because of
high land elevation and a seasonally interrupted water supply at
the original site. Construction at the new site was begun in March
1978 and is approximately 40 percent complete. Contractor
performance at this site has been unsatisfactory.
Construction of all PFDUs has been slow, for three reasons:
(1) a lack of experience within the provincial Fisheries Service
and the provincial Department of Public Works, which was
responsible for conducting engineering suneys and making
drawings; (2) inexperience of the contractors, none of whom
had previous experience in pond construction; and (3) cutting of
the construction budget by BAPENAS (Indonesian National
Planning Board) early in the project because of a mis-
understanding. Inasmuch as the PFDUs are the operational
centers for the project, construction delays had the effect of
delaying full implementation of the project.
During construction, PFDU staff were assigned to supervise
Ia'
Afish 'armer recives technical assistance from his area extension
agent and the 3F? project supervisor during construction of a new
concrete water gate for his tambak. Project staff made more than
10,000 Individual farm visits to fish farmers in Aceh and North
Sumatra between 1976 and 1978.
Farmers who participated In the harvest of a demonsatration culture
trial display 400-gram milkfish cultured in a 3-month period at PFDU
Seunodon in Aceh province. Milkflsh production of ',100 kilograms
per hectare per year was demonstrated through culture trials at the
PFDUs.
contractor performance and extension agents were assigned to
work with the contractors to gain experience in pond
construction. Extension agents are still under training and are not
yet providing guidance to farmers.
A total of 280 candidate tambak farmers received
approximately 1,680 man-days of training. In the present fiscal
year, 1,540 man-days of training and demonstration for tambak
farmers and 1,500 man-days of extension agent visits to tambak
farmers were scheduled and budgeted for three North Sumatra
PFDUs.
Aceh Province
Construction of five PFDUs in Aceh was completed in June
1977. Facilities at each PFDU include a house, a storage garage,
a training classroom, and approximately 7 hectares of
demonstration ponds.
The five Aceh PFDUs were fully operational with a staff of 10
PFDU supervisors, 21 extension agents, and 14 laborers. PFDU
operations were conducted in accordance with an annual work
plan. A total of Rp.45,757,00{) was budgeted by DGF for PFDU
operations in Aceh during fiscal years i976-77 and 1977-78.
Funding was included for pond culture trials, equipment and
supplies, vehicle operation and maintenance, staff and farmer
training programs, and preparation of extension literature.
Culture trials demonstrating intensified production
~F ;~ :4
techniques were conducted at the five Aceh PFDUs beginning
in late 1977. Culture trials included milkfish and shrimp
rnonoculture and milkfish-shrimp polyculture. Production in
milkfish monoculture trials ranged from an average of 220
kilograms per hectare for fish stocked at 1,000 per hectare to an
average of 356 kilograms per hectare for fish stocked at 1,500 per
hectare. Length of culture trials was approximately 3 months.
Milkfish production of 1,100 kilograms per hectare per year was
demonstrated at Aceh PFDUs using intensive management
techniques. Shrimp monoculture trials with P. indicus and P.
merguiensis demonstrated production approximating 222
kilograms per hectare in 60-75 days at stocking densities of
20,000-30,000 per hectare. Diffic lties were encountered in
controlling stocking densities because of wild shrimp entering
during pond filling. Wild shrimp were not eradicated, however,
because of their high commercial value.
Farmer training sessions began at Aceh PFDUs in July 1977.
Monthly training programs were offered at the five PFDUs. A
total of 654 farmers received 2,646 man-days of training at the
PFDUs. The 4-day training programs wvere conducted by PFDU
staff and TIAs, with assistance from the provincial director,
project officer, project supervisor, and technical advisor.
Training programs included method demonstrations, field trips,
lectures, use of printed materials, and discussions on pond
construction, maintenance, management, culture techniques,
fertilization, pest control, and credit. Transportation and living
expenses were provided by the project for all participants. Two
2-day workshops, Tambak Production and Marketing and Fry
Handling and Distribution, were also conducted. These were
attended by representatives of the Fisheries Service, Aceh fish
farmer associations, and milkfish buyers and distributors from
throughout Aceh ProvinGe. Information was disseminated and
demonstrations and discussions held at these workshops to assist
producers in expanding post-harvest marketing of milkfish and
improving local and interinsular distribution of milkfish fry.
Twenty-one extension agents provided guidance to fish
farmers in Aceh. The extension agents were based at the PFDUs
and received technical and supervisory assistance from the
PFDU and provincial staff. Approximately 17,000 farmer
contacts and 9,200 farm visits were made by the extension agents
and PFDU staff. In addition, the director, project officer,
project supervisor, technical advisor, 
and other project staff
made approximately 4,400 farmer contacts and 1,350 farm 
visits.
Information on employment in the tambak industry was
collected by the PFDU project staff. In North Sumatra,
approximately 72.5 rman-years of temporary labor have been
utilized to date in construction of the three PFDUs. In Aceh,
tainmbak construction and renovation provided approximately
1,100 man-years of labor during the project. The tambak
industry provides full-time employment for approximately
7,423 fish farm owners, 2,300 farm owner family meminbers, 2,560
fish farm caretakers, 500 shrimp processing workers, and 150
marketing workers. Approximately 3,433 fry collectors are
employed part time.
STAFF TRAINING
Short-term training for provincial and field project staff and
long-term training for DCF core staff were provided under the
BFP project. Four long-term participants are currently in
training programs for M.S. degrees, two in the United States and
two in the Philippines. Three-month training programs in
brackishwater fish culture were completed by two provincial
management staff in the Philippines. Two other participants
completed 1-month familiarization tours to aquaculture
installations in the United States.
Mr
t
Demonstration farm supervisors and extension agents Teceived
training in production, extension, farmer training, and surveying
techniques during training programs conaucted by the provincial
fisheries staff and technical advisors.
Twenty-three project staff (16 in Aceh and 7 in North
Sumatra) were recruited from the provincial Fisheries Service
for training at the Jepara research station in Central Java prior 
to
the arrival of the Auburn advisors. Each of these received 3
minan-rnonths of training at the Jepara facility. Training focused
on the biology and culture of milkfish and penacid shrimps.
Upon completion of the Jepara training, these staff returned to
Aceh and North Sumatra for further training and assignment as
demonstration farm (PFDi) supervisors and extension agents
(TIAs) for the BFP project.
The 16 PFDU supervisors in Aceh and North Sumatra
attended 1-week intensive courses in farm management, culture
techniques, and extension methodology. Training was provided
by the provincial fisheries project staffs and the technical
adx isors. Classroom lectures, method demonstrations, and visits
to private fish farms were included in the training. The PFD)U
supervisors then returned to their respective assignment sites to
supervise construction of the demonstration fish farms and to
assist in training extension agents. Upon completion of the
demonstration farms, the PFI)DU supervisors became
responsible for conducting demonstration culture trials and
farmer training programs. Periodic 2- and 3-day upgrading
programs were provided for the PFID)U staff during the project.
PFDU staff and other Fisheries Service staff received a total of
287 man-days of formal training from project staff. PFD staff
of both proxvinces received an additional 139 mian days of
training in a 4-day extension methodology program conducted
in-country by an Auburn University extension specialist, H1. R.
Schminittou, who was consultant to the project from July 31 to
August 28, 1977.
Extension agents (TIAs) in both provinces (25 in Aceh and 15
in North Sumatra) attended 1-week intensive courses in fish
culture and extension mrethodology after their appointments to
the BFP project. Training was provided by the provincial
fisheries project staffs and the technical advisors. In Aceh,
extension agents spent an additional month at the PFDU Gano
site in Banda Aceh to observe pond construction and fish culture
demonstrations. Five TIAs were then assigned to each of the
PFDUs for 3 months of on-the-job training. TIAs assisted PFDU
staff during this period in supervising construction of the PFDUs
and preparing materials for farmer training programs. TIAs
from both provinces received 44.3 man-months of formal
training from project staff and 141 man-months of on-the-job
training. In the third-year extension of the North Sumatra
subproject, 180 man-days of additional training for TIAs were
scheduled and budgeted, along with 780 man-days of training
meetings and consultations for all staff.
Interest has been expressed by the Rector of Syiah Kuala
University in Banda Aceh in developing a fisheries education
program. It was recommended by project staff that the
University, the Fisheries Service, and the extension training
center in Sare, Aceh Besar, coordinate efforts to provide
vocational training in fisheries and short-term advanced training
for provincial and kabupaten fisheries staff.
PRODUCTION INCREASES
North Sumatra Province
Production increases were not expected during the period of
technical assistance to the project in North Sumatra. The goal for
expansion, the emphasis of the project in North Sumatra, is for
2,100 hectares of tambak to be constructed and operational by
the end of Pelita III (1979-84). By the end of year one of Pelita III
it is expected that 300 hectares will be under construction with a
portion completed and production cycles begun. As new
tambaks become operational, a production of 1,000 kilograms
per hectare per year of milkfish and shrimp can be expected, as
has been convincingly demonstrated in the Philippines, in Aceh
at the PFDUs, and in instances of well-managed private
tambaks.
By the end of Pelita III, tambak production from 2,100
hectares in North Sumatra is expected to be 2,100 tons per year
(1976 pre-project production was 206.1 tons). This will represent
new, full-time employment for approximately 525 families,
with an annual income of about Rp.800,000 per family after
operation costs, and employment for 1,050 hired laborers.
Aceh Province
Tambak production in Aceh before the project began was
estimated at 7,765.5 tons annually from 15,848 hectares (490
kilograms per hectare per year). An end-of-project survey by the
Aceh fish farmer federation and Aceh Fisheries Service
estimates current annual production at 12,073.3 tons from 18,196
hectares (664 kilograms per hectare per year). This represents a
net increase in marketable products of 4,307.8 tons per year as a
direct result of assistance from this project, which exceeds by
2,050 tons the project production goal of 2,258 tons. Approxi-
mately 1,170 tons of this production are from new tambaks
(expansion).
The 4,308 tons of new tambak production already realized in
Aceh provides 10 kilograms of fish for 430,800 persons (or the
equivalent thereof), increasing per capita consumption from the
present 20 kilograms to 30 kilograms (minimum WHO standard
for animal protein consumption). This production represents
additional income to tambak farmers of Rp.1,292,400,000
(@Rp.300 per kilogram). Total USAID funding to the project is
$606,000, or $0.14 per kilogram for the fish production increase
as a direct result of the project. This cost will be significantly
reduced as longer-term aspects of the project pay off in North
Sumatra and Aceh.
MARKETING
Understanding the marketing situation and providing
solutions are important to project success, in the short-term for
intensification and long-term for expansion.
The technology for milkfish culture is comparatively well
understood and culture systems are available that have a history
of success. Expected production under given conditions can be
accurately predicted in most cases. In North Sumatra, however,
there has not been a strong tradition of milkfish culture and
consumption. Small quantities of milkfish are produced by
traditional methods in scattered areas of North Sumatra. A
marketing study of milkfish is currently being conducted by the
provincial Fisheries Service. Depending on the result of this
study, it has been proposed that market promotion of milkfish
be conducted in the Medan area.
Aceh has a tradition of milkfish culture and consumption, but
demand is limited by the small population. Production increases
in Aceh would be more rapid if adequate markets for milkfish
were available. The production capacity of Aceh tambaks
exceeds present demand in the province. Farmers must often
sell milkfish at low profit. The Aceh fish farmer federation
estimates that one-third of the current milkfish production could
be exported without limiting local supplies, table 1.
Efforts to locate export markets for milkfish have not been
promising to date. Discussions with marketing representatives
from Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, and Japan indicate that
export markets are at present limited. Milkfish have not been
promoted in these markets in the past, and marketing agents are
hesitant to promote a new product. A large potential market
exists in Jakarta, but project staff have not yet been successful in
establishing shipping linkages between Aceh and Jakarta. It
appears, however, that Jakarta is the best potential outlet for
milkfish production from Aceh and North Sumatra.
There are no problems in marketing shrimp. Processors and
exporters of shrimp in Aceh and North Sumatra are looking
increasingly to tambaks for future shrimp supplies in the face of
declining trawler catches from the straits of Malacca. The
shrimp that is now produced in tambaks is readily sold to
exporters at high prices. Unfortunately, the technology for
TABLE 1. ESTIMATED ANNUAL MILKFISH PRODUCTION AND SALES DATA FOR ACEH PROVINCE, 1977-78
Milkfish Local Milkfish available for export
Kabupaten production sales Percent of
per year per year Per year Per month production
Tons Tons Tons Tons Pct.
Aceh Besar............................................... 126.0 126.0 0.0 0 
0.0
Pidie .................................................... 991.9 441.4 550.5 
46 55.5
Aceh Utara ............................................. 5,467.5 3,837.5 
1,630.0 136 29.8
Aceh Timor.............................................. 1,027.2 667.2 360.0 
30 35.0
TOTAL ................................................. ... 7,612.6 5,072.1 2,540.5 212 
33.4
Milkfish is traditionally sold by the piece (250-400 grams per fish) in
local markets in Aceh and North Sumatra. While improved
production technology is being adopted by local farmers in these
areas, the establishment of marketing links with the major consumer
areas in Java has not occurred. Thus, marketing is currently the
major constraint ito continued expansion of the milkfish industry on
Sumatra.
shrimop cultutre is itnsuffic iently dev eloped to petrtit extension of
reliable, tested information to shrimp farmers. 1The gosverment
thus risks thc' loss of credihihits and the fatrmer risks loss of his
insvestnient. Facilities for field testing and demonstration of
shrimp culture techniques, as we ll as shrimp hatchers facilities,
are presently not asvailable on Sumatra. Such facilities has e been
reeonmendced and are unde r consideration.
It is important that decisions and commitments concerning
the direction and empIhasis of tambak culture (shrimp ss.
milkfisb) be made so that appropriate planning coot be done. If
milkfish are to be cultured in the region, ness markets must be
dev eloped. Leadership for nesw market dev elopnment outside of
the northern Sumatra region should come front the ISOF. If
shrimp are to be cultured, there wxill be an immnediate need for
field trial facilities to test culture techniques and adapt them to
conditions in the region. Scerious planning should also begin
immediately for the de-, elopitent of a shrimp hatchery program
for the northern Sumatra region capable of supporting an
expanding shrimp productio~n industrs.
PRODUCER ASSOCIATIO0IS
Txxo informal producer associations base organiied in North
Sumnatr a for the purpose Of constructing ness tambaks. Initiatixve
for the formation sxas prosided by indiiduais sho had
attended farmer training programs gixven by the project.
Holdings of association members total approximatex 220
hectares. Members of one association hasve already begun wxork
and hasve mnade substantial progress in clearing their pond sites.
Participants in a farmer training program from another area
base exp~ressed interest itt forming an association and are
presenitly looking for a suitable site.
In Aceb, 14 ness fish farm owsner associations we re formed
during the prcject. Four kabupaten lesel federations of
associations and a prosvincial federation also xwere formed wxith
Jproject assistance. Ac eh cuirrentls has 78 prodiucer associations
and fixve federations. Association membership has increased .34
percent, from 2,.341 farmers before the project to 3,135 farmers
at p~resent, table 2. These associations anti federations pros ide
assistance to members in purchasing and storin~g production
injputs, distributing technical information, and prosviding
representation at local anic prosvincial gosvernmtent meetings.
Project staff hasve wxorked directly wxith these associations to
assist farmers to inc rea se producition . Association
representativ es hasve attended national meetings of importance
to the tambak industrsy. and has e taken steps to solsve marketing
problems currently fac ing the industry.
EXPANSION PROGRAMI
1'he program of exlpatnsion, the eniphasis oif the N orth
Suimatra subproject, is targeted with sursveying and identifying
Imamgrosve sw amp areas suitable for tanihak des eiopmeot and
p)reparing a p~rogram capablie of provicding technical assistance
to ness fish farmers as thes are settled on potentiad tamibak lands.
1The 01 extpansion goal for Nordi Suimitra is 2,.1001 hec~tares of
tambhaks by the end of the next 5 year plan (Pelitai 111). wshich
hegins wxith the next fiscal year (April 1, 1979). This goal is a
reasonable one anti chisels approximates the aut hors' estimate
of the project extension capacity xxhen the project is foilsy
op erational.
The 001 target group for consversion to coastal fish farming is
the under-eniploye cociastal fishermen. These f ishermen are
aiiiing the poorest of the coastal inhabitants in northern Sumatra
anti there is little potentiail for improsvemen~t for them through
increased efforts in the maruine capture fishers. The fishers
resources of the \lalacca Straits are alreadys exploited to their
fullest and cannot sustain increased fishi ng pressure.' Fish
culture in tamnbaks offers an alternativ e source of employ ment
for these fishermen.
Participation in the expansion programs is not limited to
coastal fishermen, bossevxer, hut is also asvailable to other
interested persons. Occupational information obtained from a
sampling of training program participants (candidate tambak
farmers., resvealed the folioss ing:
Status No.
U nemployed
0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
Fishermen ......................................... I
Farmers .......................................... 16
Merchants ......................................... I
Students/trainees ...................................
Officexvorkers ......................................
Partners/fishermen ................................ 4
pensioners ........................................
3
Lahorers .......................................... 2
joiirnalists .........................................
Fish farmers ...................................... 1
* Ikut orang tua (English translation- "xx ork wxith p~arents")-
Inasmuch as most expansion program participants base no
background in fish farming, social factors may play an
important role in the consversion psrocess.
X major obstacle to expansion is economic, and the limiting
economic factor is the cost of pond excasvation. For a tambak
using the benthic algae method of fish food production to be
wxatered sufficiently wxithout excasvation, the axverage high tide
must inundate the land surface to a mininurn depth of 30
centimeters. Dikes 1 meter high are assumed, thus the maximum
Sonmars of findings of the \% orkshop on the Fishers Resources oii
the \lalacca Straits-Parts I anid 11, March 29-April 2, 1976, Jakarta.
U.NFAO/UNDF Report.
'1 mi F2 Nt BIFI Ei )F FISHi \WAmi Assot IAxIO\S INA C( I! BEFFORE' AND AT' I! E N! OFT 
I IFR I Eop
Before project End of 
project
KauaLnAsc 
mer- Tambak Feder- 
Associa- Farmer Tamhak 
Feer-
tions shiper area ations ions memrber- 
ra ain
shpship 
ae 1
0
No. No. Ha No. No. 
No. Ha No.
Areb Besar........................... 4 95 
268 4 95 268 1
Pidie................................ 22 847 1,697 
1 22 919 1,843 1
Aceb IUtara........................... 8 349 996 
22 1,010 2,445 2
Aceb Timor.......................... 30 1,050 
2,596 30 1,111 2,66A 1
TOTAL.................................. 64 2,341 
5,557 1 78 3,135 7,220 
5
high tide should not exceedl 80 centimeters aibnxe "lie land
surface. U nder these conditions, 4 hectares is the mininmum size
tanlhak that wxill support a farm familx of four tluring thle crerlit
repaN mnent period, at an income lexvel of allproximatel 82 10 per
capi ta per annum. Unofortunatelxy, the aboxve relationshp of landi
elexvation and tidal fluctuation represents a narroxx iange of
conditions xvhich unix a small percentage of land can be
expected to hax e.
With excaxvation of 20 centimeters (the cutting depth1 of the
common digging tool), the area (If potential tamnbak is
substantiallx increased. Hoxxevxer, under the size limitation of a
familxv tambak (5 hectares Inaximunm as defined by project
paper) and projected tambak productions, it is not economlicallx
feasible to excaxvate 20 centimeters ev en if present credit terms
wxere liberlized to permit repax mnent in 10 instead of 5 years. in
addition there arc technical disadxvantages to tamnbak
excaxation. Excaxation remoxes organic-rich topsoil xxhich
xx ouild cmntribute significa ,itlx to pond fertilitxy. It exposes
potentially acidic subsoil conditions wxhich are common to
mangroxve formations. Beyond a certain depth of excaxation the
soil c'an no longer be added to the dikes and a problem) of soil
disposal arises.
The most obxvions solution to the problem of excaxvatiton is to
locate areas xxhere excaxation is not necessary because of
z. ma t,~ nnac, mangrove swamp ares wvas surveyed as
part of the expansion project In North Sumatra province. The
program of expansion identifies swamp areas suitable lor tamnbak
development and provides technical assistance to new fish farmerq
as they settle on potential tambak lands.
faxvorable tidal fiuctiratirns and l a~ erlev ation. 1 
1
nxxcx er. such
hld is limited in area. A second possible solution, (onc xxvhich
xxwould( greatlx' increase the area capable of hr'ing dexveloped into
talubak, is pumping. Preliminarx intlica ions are that pumnping is
significantlx cheaper than excaxvationl. Puimping is seen onx as
an interimi soltiitn, hoxxecxer, wxith excaxvation taking place
grarlnally ovxer a periord of sexv('Til e ars (Iluring wxhich til! wxxater
is proxvirderd pumping. Before pum!!!ping can be
r.eomImendedr, appropriate an~d ax ailabie pumping eqipmeinit
mu1(st be irdentified anrd eco~nomhic andl technical data obtainerd
throogh field tr'sting at ono(f the P111. s. A pllmping splecialist
consultant Nx ill gixve technical assistance to) the pro(ject rduring thre
thirrd y ear. A thirrd possible solution, xxwhich has xyrt to he
thoroughlx invxestigatrerI is excaxvatioln using heaxy earth mlox ng
eqjuipment. A fourth, partial so~lutionl wxould he a significant
easing of credit terms.
Exven if tone (IF m(ore oIf the abovxer possible s(oluti(ons xwere
inmplenmented, the farmers murst rapidly rdexvelop their
maniagemenlt skills andI maximlize pr'odulcti(on to assure succress.
They wxouldl still be' op~eratinlg on is precariouls rmirgin rduring
the 5 x ear pe'riod of credit repay ment.
A major project actixvity during the srecond xr'csr v as sulrx eying
manlgroxve xxx amnp areas to determine their potential for tambak
dcx'elopment. This has involx'edr entering the sxxamnp in bolats to
characterize the landl according to so~il txpe, land elevation in
relationship to tide, tidal fluctuiation, and characteristics olf the
manlgrovxe forest covxer. The area xxas then estimated by eye and
from) 1:100,0)00 scale miaps. The objectixve is to relirninalte fromn
further consideration areas wxith Ino potential foir tambak
development. Specific areas wxith poltential wxill be evaluated in
greater detail as interest in tanhak dcxvelopment is explressed bx
the local people. Conducting of the surxvey is sloxx due to the
difficulty of reaching some areas and moxving about in them. A
mlot(orizecd beat is axvailable for tpart of the surveyx but
(Iarpoxx ered boats are used roost of the time.
A total of 14,385 bectares xx as surx cx ed (28.8 percent oif total
axailable mingroxve estimaterd for North Sumatra). 
Of tis toItal,
3,971) hectares (27.6 pIercent) wxere identified as haxving po(tential
for tambak dexvelopment, 7,755 hectares (53.9 tpercent) as haxving
potential for tambak dexelotlment if irrigation by pumping
were utilized, and 2,720 hectares (18.9 plercent) xxcre considered
to haxve no plotential for tambak dex'elopment.
A second major (obstacle for expansion is the difficultx of
obtaining land certification and titling that is acceptable to the
banks as collateral for credit. The problems encountered by
applicants haxe been lack of adequate information about
application procedures, high administrative colsts, and length of
time required for processing. A xxo(rking groupI xxas formed
xvitbin the prov incial Fisheries Service to study the problem and
recommend actions to be taken to solxve the problem.
An estimated 1,152 hectares of existing tambak are reported
from North Sumatra. Intensification (If these tambaks, as xxith
expansion of production units, depends on solxving problems of
land certification so that credit can be made axvailable for
renox'ation and production inputs. Surxveys are being planned to
gather relexvant data colncerning existing tambaks.