Global Saline Tilapia Market Potential Must Be Seized, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi at the Inauguration of a Saline Tilapia Cultivation Model in Karawang regency, West Java province, Wednesday (05/08) (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Kris)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Wednesday (05/08) inaugurated the Saline Tilapia Cultivation Model managed by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries’ Aquaculture Production Business Service Center (BLUPPB) in Karawang regency, West Java province.

On that occasion, President Jokowi said that the promising global market potential of saline tilapia must be seized.

“In 2024, its market will worth US$14.4 billion, or approximately Rp230 trillion, which is very large,” the President added.

On that occasion, President Jokowi noticed that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries’ efforts in creating a saline tilapia cultivation model were on the right track. With the development of this tilapia farming model, he continued, the Government can monitor the production capacity of saline tilapia.

“We must make the most of the promising demand, but don’t immediately create a large one. I agree that a model should be made first,” the President said, underscoring that production can be increased from 0.6 tons per hectare to 80 tons per hectare.

The President further said that developing these ponds, which cover 78,000 hectares of former shrimp ponds, requires a budget of around Rp13 trillion.

Furthermore, President Jokowi highlighted that if this saline tilapia cultivation model yields good production results, the Government will allocate a budget to build all these tilapia ponds in the 2025 State Budget.

“If it is very feasible, I will prepare it in the 2025 or 2026 State Budget and propose it to the new Government, to the elected President, so that this big dream can finally be realized,” he remarked. (TGH/ST) (AP/MUR)