“Kampung keramba” a Respite from Life

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

The atmosphere at the Tourism Village of Keramba 22, Periuk District, Tangerang City in Banten, Wednesday (15/9/2021).

Two consecutive disasters within a year have encouraged the residents of neighborhood unit (RW) 022 Blok I Garden City Residence in Tangerang, Banten, to create a fish farm to build resilience and a source of livelihood.

A bamboo hut with a roof made from light steel and reeds stands by the lakeside at the Garden City Residence housing compound. The lake is filled with more than 100 keramba (net cages), containing tilapia, catfish and aquatic plants.

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Fish cultivation in the lake, which has greenish water, has become the residents’ source of livelihood in the past year.

“The lake used to be unattended. The pandemic has driven the residents\' initiative to seek new livelihood sources together," Wahyudi (46) said on Wednesday (15/9/2021). He was checking the condition of the water and the nets, while feeding the fish in the keramba.

The father of two used to be a driver for a spare parts company in Tangerang. The pandemic hit the industry, and he had been laid off by the company citing operational efficiency.

Using his savings, he participated in the fish cultivation by purchasing three keramba for Rp 1.5 million (US$105) apiece.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Wahyudi (46) feeds his favorite fish in a floating net pond at Keamba Tourism Village 22, Periuk District, Tangeranf City, Banten, Wednesday (15/9/2021)

The keramba measures four by two meters, divided into two compartments for breeding matchstick-sized fish seeds he bought at a cost of Rp 400 to Rp 700 per head.

The selling price of adult fish is between Rp 21,000 and Rp 30,000 per kilogram. "The harvest may take up to two months," he said.

A fellow resident, who was said to have sown some 700 fish seeds, had reaped 300 kilograms of adult fish the previous week, which made Wahyudi optimistic about his own harvest.

Fortune shift

The Garden City Residence is in the vicinity of the flood-prone "Kota Benteng" (the fortress city) as Tangerang is nicknamed, with the most recent flooding taking place in early 2020. The flood water clogged the neighborhood for over a week.

Many of them were laid off from work.

The Covid-19 pandemic that the country hit weeks later also impacted people’s lives, including those at the RW 022 Block I neighborhood. Many of them were laid off from work.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Saung where tourists enjoy the atmosphere in the Keramba 22 Tourism Village, Periuk District, Tangerang City in Banten, Wednesday (15/9/2021).

"We want to bring change to the flood-prone area and the fate of those affected by the pandemic. For food security we have created an income source," Riswanto (46), one of the initiators, said.

The initiative was launched with residents gathering around Rp 20 million, used to install electricity, CCTV, a five by 10 meter U-shaped hut and net cages.

Fish cultivation began operation in September 2020. With 186 keramba belonging to 40 residents, the fish farming has been developed into a tourism attraction with the promotional tag of Kampung Wisata Keramba 22 (The Keramba fish farming tourism village 22).

Apart from relying on visitors’ testimonies, the site is also promoted through their Instagram page @kampungwisatakeramba22. “Visitors who rent a hut are served with a menu of fish from the ponds or nearby food stalls. Everyone can gain [financial] sustenance," Riswanto said.

They were members of a women’s recital gathering, a social organization and local government employees.

The other week, a biking group consisting of 70 people stopped at the site. They were members of a women’s recital gathering, a social organization and local government employees.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Riswanto (46), one of the initiators of the Cage 22 Tourism Village, Periuk District, Tangerang City in Banten, Wednesday (15/9/2021).

Riswanto said his drink stall sold well and he sold 20 kilograms of fish from the five cages.

Support

Aware of the potential, the residents have been appealing for support to further develop the site. "We want to become an empowered, independent farmer groups," Riswanto said.

They have received training on fresh fish processing from the Tangerang Food Office, as well as online classes by a colleague who had been educated at the Agricultural Institute of Bogor, West Java.

However, the community said they still needed to improve infrastructure access to the site. Currently, the road leading to the area is damaged with potholes and mud. Facilities inside the site are also in need of improvement, with only one toilet for visitors.

Support has been coming, but realizing the infrastructure improvements takes time. “The mayor came here and said he would help build a selfie spot. Provincial Legislative Council members (DPRD) and district and sub-district heads have also pledged their support," site chairman Iwan Sanjaya said.

On the embankment, a track has been built for pedestrians or those who want to stretch.

The lake has now been reinforced with a flood barrier. On the embankment, a track has been built for pedestrians or those who want to stretch.

Kampung Wisata Keramba 22 has been added to the tourism destination list for the Periuk district, which already features Kampung Lorong Anggur, Kampung Sejahtera Mandiri, Kampung Matahari and Kampung Lotus.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Cage Tourism Village in Periuk District, Tangerang City, Banten, Wednesday (15/9/2021).

Periuk district head Maryono is inviting the residents to work together to develop the potential of their region. Initiatives and creative plans from local people deserve the government’s support, especially during the ongoing pandemic.

(This article was translated by Musthofid).