IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2019) 10-1

Research article
erd

Potency and Barrier of the Small-Scale Aquaculture
Development in Reclaimed Tidal Lowlands, South Sumatera,Indonesia
MIRNA FITRANI*
Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
E-mail: fitrani.m@ku.th

IDSARIYA WUDTISIN
Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand

METHEE KAEWNERN
Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
Received 8 January 2019

Accepted 31 May 2019(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract The small-scale aquaculture holds an essential role in the provision of nutrition,increasing the income and welfare of the community in developing countries. Through thetransmigration program, which has been undertaken in tidal lowland by the Indonesian
government, small-scale fish farming is a feasible prospect that should be considered. This
research aimed to study the characteristics, the strength, and barriers of current aquaculture
systems in the tidal lowlands area. Data were collected through survey interview to 60
farmers who have earthen ponds. Soil and water quality analysis have been done in twovillages of Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatera, Indonesia. The strengths, weaknesses,opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis showed that aquaculture could be an alternative
income besides agricultural activities (paddy and corn farming). The available of earthen
ponds sized 16-300 m2, and the water canal could be functioned as media farming andwater source. Farmers have a decent expectation of fish culture, mainly due to the highdemand for fish. The weakness comes from water and soil quality besides the lessavailability of adequate feed and fry. The presence of pyrite in the soil as a character oftidal lowlands caused low pH (<4). Thus, it should be managed appropriately. Social
conditions, technology, and information, as well as government supports, are great
opportunities for improving small-scale aquaculture. However, some threats such as limited
capital, a suitable price, and management practices have to be evaluated to optimize
sustainable fish production.
Keywords small-scale aquaculture, SWOT analysis, reclaimed tidal lowlands,
pond management

INTRODUCTION
The increasing of a human population in the world has been predicted to reach about 9 billion in2050, which will impact the demand for food consumption. Therefore, aquaculture has essentialroles. Six percent of the total intake of human protein comes from the fish. Fish protein was evenconsumed in developing countries by 30% of all animal protein intake (NACA, 2015). Therefore,aquaculture production should be more than 90 million-year-1 by 2030 (FAO, 2014). De Silva(2012) revealed at least more than 50% of the total production of aquaculture in 2006 should bereached by 2020.
The small-scale aquaculture is an important issue. This activity contributes almost half of thetotal inland fish production worldwide (FAO, 2014). The small fisheries farm could increase thefood intake (Kawarazuka, 2010), and a minimum of 90% of the people involved in this regime
worked on the small scale of practices (Mohanty et al., 2010).
Indonesia was one of the top 25 producers, and a central group of farm species in the worldⒸ ISERD

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has been playing a part in providing food security through the primary production, income
generation in rural areas, and procreating the significant export (KKP, 2018). These indicate thatfisheries product is essential. However, this condition must remarkably be considered since theoverfishing and aquaculture development has been facing severe problems related to thetechnology and management practices adaptation. Furthermore, the competition of naturalresources requirements such as water and land use, as well as the presence of the fieldworker, could
be a serious issue.
Mostly, freshwater aquaculture in Indonesia has been developed in Java and Sumatera Island.
However, since the increasing of the human population impacted the land and water use in Java,fish culture likely moved to Sumatera, a location with a lower community (Edwards, 2010). The
Indonesian government, through the transmigration program, has reclaimed the new area inlowlands. Primarily tidal swamps as new settlements, to support the growth of food production andfood self-sufficiency program by the lowlands intensification program. This program has given
more benefits, mainly in the case of distribution of population, an increase in agriculturalproduction, economy, and public prosperity (Susanto et al., 2014).
South Sumatera is one of the provinces in Indonesia which has tidal lowlands. It spreads into
five districts; Ogan Komering Ilir, Banyuasin, Musi Banyuasin, Ogan Ilir, and Muara Enim.
District of Banyuasin is the second largest tidal lowland area where agricultural production hasreached more than 4 million tons. ha-1 (BPS, 2018). Although the increase in output has been
impacting farmer’s income and profitability, the potency of reclaimed tidal lowlands is still unoptimally exerted. Most farmers have approximately 0.25 ha land for housing, with minimal one
earthen pond that had been built accidentally (Susanto et al., 2015). Some farmers were using thepond for small-scale aquaculture, while others emptied the pond or used as the water source fordaily activity. However, there were limited pieces of information about how the existing small fish
farming activities conducted.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to identify the characteristic, current status, the barrier, and challenges of smallscale aquaculture to improve the potency of reclaimed tidal lowlands for sustainable fish farming.
METHODOLOGY
The study of potency and barrier of the small-scale aquaculture development in reclaimed tidal
lowlands had been taken in two locations. They were in Mulyasari and Bangunsari Villages in
Tanjung Lago Sub District of Banyuasin Regency as the representative of the farming area ofsmall-scale fish activity.
Survey location and interview have been conducted to 60 farmers who have an earthen pond.
Purposive sampling was chosen as a sampling technique. In this part, data collection consisting of
the closed questioner and a structured interview - the questions related to the farmer background or
demographic information, fish culture activity, particularly on soil and water management, andhow the government or other participators involved. Water and soil pH was measured using a
portable pH meter. Total alkalinity and hardness were measured by using a protocol in Clesceri etal. (1998). A glass electrode was inserted into a soil mixture and distilled water (1:1) to measuresoil pH Soil (Thunjai et al., 2004). A particle-size analysis was calculated by using a simplifiedhydrometer method described by Weber and Gokel (1977). The last, using SWOT analysis toanalyze the data to find the strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and treats (Rimmer et al., 2013).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Bangunsari Village has an area of 21.10 km2 while Mulyasari around 18.83 km2. Most of theseareas were lowland, with the altitude ranges 10-20 meters above the sea level. The climate of those
two locations was tropical, with high rainfall of about 1000-2000 mm-year-1 and temperatureⒸ ISERD

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around 26-320C (BPS, 2018). The distance between the village was about 12 km. Generally, bothareas could be accessed through either land or river (canal) routes using small boats. Canals havebeen built for water management and as border an area of a village to another place (zoning). The
channel also was functioned as a water source and the embankment for the road. Both ofBangunsari and Mulyasari have village shaft roads along about 4 km made by cement, and someparts were soil road. Those soil roads condition were hardly passed during the rainy season,
especially in Bangunsari. Mostly the area of Bangunsari and Mulyasari were used for agriculturalland, which has been producing paddy and corn (Zea mays) with the growing production year byyear. Many unutilized waste products of paddy and corn were found, as shown in Fig. 1.

(a)

(b)
(c)
(d)
Fig. 1 Water canal (a), paddy field (b) and corn product (c),and unused product of paddy and corn (d)The Status and Potency of the Small-scale Fish Farming
The significant part area of Tanjung Lago District included Bangunsari and Mulyasari were locatedin reclaimed tidal lowland, which was impacted by tidal from the main river. More than 40% of thewhole regions have been used for agriculture farming, mainly paddy and corn. Aquaculture was aside activity. The farmers used the earthen pond surrounding their house yard to rear the fish (Fig.
2).

(a)

(b)
Fig. 2 Condition of the ponds in Bangunsari (a) and Mulyasari (b)The earthen ponds used in both areas were categorized as a small scale, which has a varied
size (16-300 m2) with the depth range 0.5-1.0 m. The water source came from the rain and water
canal. Although fish farming has been conducted for more than ten years ago, most of the fish werecultured just for family consumption and the local market. Commonly, the fry of fish was spread in
the small number (less than 6000 fish) from the local seller in Palembang city and the river or canal.
During the culture, pellet, and Lemna sp. were used as feed for fish. The commercial feed wasusually used with no information about its nutrient content. Farmers just selected the low price orbased on the shop recommendation and information from other farmers. There was much various
information about how long the fish farm. However, it could be concluded approximately morethan six to 12 months, and sometimes it depends on the need or occasion.
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Every member of each family has a role in fish culture, especially the woman, who participate
more in this activity. Generally, the wife of the farmers spent most of the time at home to take careof the children and do household activities, included handling the fish culture. The woman
contribution indicates one of the successful initiatives under which small-scale aquaculture (Bhujel,2012).
The Barrier of Small-scale Aquaculture
During the field survey, the information revealed un well-management of fish culture. The poor
soil and water quality of earthen pond were the factors besides less feed management, and capital
impacted the success of aquaculture in both Bangunsari and Mulyasari. The earthen pond in both
places has different water pH and soil pH. However, mostly, the pH condition was very acid. Ponds
had low water alkalinity and hardness, although some ponds had a high value of alkalinity andhardness (Table 1). The content of pyrite could be seen by yellow color on the soil through thepicture, which indicates the acidity in those areas (White et al., 1995).
Table 1 Current conditions, soil and water qualities, and some management practices ofearthen ponds in Bangunsari and Mulyasari
Criteria and condition
Pond construction

Bangunsari

Water quality

Soil quality

Pond management usedLimingFertilizer








The pond embankment wasparallel to the land
unavailable Inlet or outlet
The ponds were quite shadybecause of many plants planted inthe yardpH 5.3-7.0
Alkalinity
18.67-44.00
mg/LCaCO3Hardness 21.51-60.92 mg/L CaCO3
Texture: sandy clay loam
pH 3.30-6.17
Contain of pyrite

Mostly used to be practiced
Some pondsMulyasariThe pond embankment wasparallel to the land
 Inlet or outlet was unavailable The ponds were quite shadybecause of many plants planted inthe yard
 pH 3.9-6.8
 Alkalinity 18.67-83.33 mg/L CaCO3
 Hardness 13.76-72.68 mg/L CaCO3


Texture: sandy clay loam
pH 3.50-5.86
Contain of pyrite

NeverSome ponds

Based on the SWOT analysis (Table 2), there was a weakness of small-scale fish farming
activity in both two villages, such as less knowledge and information about fish farming
management practices and also empowerment for the farmer. The majority, the farmers, werearound 30-50 years old and elementary graduated. The farmers were not focused yet on aquaculture.
They did fish farming as a hobby or followed their neighbors. Some of those farmers have joined
the training and workshop, which were held by the local government and university. However,those activities have not regularly practiced. Thus, the information and knowledge were not
optimally beneficial due to no empowerment and control.

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Table 2 SWOT Analysis
StrengthsExistence of farmer who has earthen pond
Good support from community, especially woman
Accessibility
ofearthenponds,
publicinfrastructure; electricity, road and water canals
Availability of local market and the high of fishconsumption
Abundant of agricultural waste productWeakness

Opportunities

Farmer training and extension Increasing
employment and incomes
National policy and support for fish farming
development
Regulation of Banyuasin Regency No. 24 year
2012 about protection of Sustainable Agriculture
LandIncreasing market demand
Increase the use of local ingredients in feeds
Promotion of fish productLow educating and knowledge
Less of training and management practices
Severe of pond soil and water quality
No maintenance system
High cost and variable quality of feeds
High production costs
Less of research and empowerment
university and government

fromThreats

Erratic weather condition impacting the waterquantity and quality
Increasing cost of production
No-communication/connection
No-budget for maintenanceSevere soil and water quality were also significant problems in the case of fish culture inreclaimed tidal lowland. The earthen pond has low productivity due to acid soil and water quality,
especially in Mulyasary Village, where the high content of pyrite impacted the low alkalinity andpH (Boyd, 1995). The threats came from the issue of climate change that might affect theaquaculture activity. The changing of the weather caused the culture period to be unpredictable.
Water quality was the main factor impacted in this case. There was no budget and maintenance,
and also a connection between the community, government, and university resulted in the low
productivity of aquaculture.

Fig. 3 Documentation of survey and interview process

CONCLUSION
The aquaculture in both Bangunsari and Mulyasari Villages was a small scale that has an excellent
potency to be developed. The unique area, the reclaimed tidal lowland, needs excellent
management and empowerment. It involves not only the farmers or community, but also theconcern of government, academia, and multi-party are also essential. The obstacle comes fromimproper management of fish culture practices, including poor soil and water quality. Even though
the small scale is suitable in those areas to increase the resilience of rural livelihoods, if the privateⒸ ISERD

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sector is attracted to collaborate, this project can be explored to be commercial aquaculture that isbeneficial for many people.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper was a part of the Dissertation of Mirna Fitrani, under supervised by Assistant Prof. Dr.
Idsariya Wudtisin and Assistant Prof. Dr. Methee Kawnern. The authors would like to thank theIndonesian Endowment Fund for Education Ministry of Finance (LPDP-Budi) for the research fund,and all participation from the farmers. Further, the sincere appreciation and gratitude to the lateProf. Dr. Robiyanto Hendro Susanto, as well as his Team in Pusdatarawa (Rodo, Yenni, Eny, Ica,Eko, Abdi, Faisal, and Pak Een) for all help and support which have given.

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