KKP Strengthens Fisheries Businesses through Equipment Assistance

RRI.CO.ID, Pandeglang - Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has provided equipment assistance to strengthen fish processing and marketing businesses among coastal communities in Pandeglang, Banten. The assistance consisted of 16 chest freezers, three sets of fish processing equipment, and 128 cool boxes distributed to 32 recipient groups.

The assistance was handed over at the Cikiruhwetan Red and White Fishermen’s Village, or Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP), in Pandeglang Regency on Tuesday (29/9). KNMP is one of the business units operated by the Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperative, developed as part of efforts to strengthen the business ecosystem for fishing communities.

Special Staff to the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries for Priority Program Oversight and Strategic Communications, TB Ardi Januar, said the development of the marine and fisheries sector must be supported by strengthening the entire business chain from upstream to downstream. He said limited storage facilities remain one of the challenges faced by fishers in maintaining the quality of their catch.

“Assistance for fishers must be provided comprehensively. It should not focus on just one part, but strengthen the entire business chain from upstream to downstream so that the economic benefits can be felt by the community,” TB Ardi Januar said in an official statement on Wednesday (30/9).

Through the KNMP program, the government is developing integrated fishing communities equipped with supporting facilities, including cold storage facilities, ice plants, fish landing centers, and other infrastructure. The facilities are expected to help maintain the quality of catches while increasing the economic value of fisheries products.

Director of Infrastructure and Facilities at the Directorate General of Competitiveness of Marine and Fisheries Products, Achmad Al Farisi, said proper handling of fisheries products from the time they are caught until they reach the market is crucial in determining their economic value. He expressed hope that the equipment assistance would extend product shelf life, increase selling prices, and strengthen the competitiveness of fisheries products from coastal communities.

“Fishery products can quickly lose their quality if they are not handled properly. The process from catching or harvesting fish to processing, storage, and marketing is an important factor in determining the economic value of the products,” Farisi said.

Banten Governor Andra Soni welcomed the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries’ support for strengthening the marine and fisheries sector in the province. He said fishers already have the skills needed to catch fish, but still require adequate facilities and infrastructure to manage their catches more effectively and generate greater economic benefits for the community.