“Traditional Plus” Aims to Increase Shrimp Production

The shrimp production and export volume declined in 2022. Strategic steps, such as a shift to the “traditional plus” cultivation method, are needed to boost competitiveness.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Two workers are carrying vannamei shrimp seeds in an Area-Based Shrimp Cultivation pond in Kebumen Regency, Central Java, Thursday (9/3/2023). President Joko Widodo inaugurated the ponds, which were built with a budget of Rp. 175 billion.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A declining trend in production amid increasingly fierce market competition leaves Indonesian with discouraging prospects about its target of achieving a 250-percent increase in shrimp exports for the 2020-2024 period. Strategic steps, such as a shift to the “traditional plus” cultivation method, are needed to boost competitiveness.

Shrimp is a leading aquaculture export commodity, which contributes 30-40 percent of the total volume of fisheries exports. The 2020-2024 projection eyes the production of 2 million tons with an export value of US$4.25 billion, growth of 250 percent. The targeted figure will need a 15 percent growth in annual export volume and 20 percent increase in export value.

However, it turned out shrimp production and export volume declined in 2022. Based on data at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the export volume of shrimp was 240,000 tons worth $2.16 billion, compared with 2021’s 250,700 tons worth $2.23 billion.

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Indonesian Shrimp Forum chairman Budhi Wibowo blamed the production decline on white spot disease, which reduced the survival rate of shrimp. He said the use of feed had also been increasingly inefficient, which resulted in Indonesian shrimp declining in competitiveness in the global market.

Amid the discouraging prospects about the 2024 target due to the declining trends in production and competitiveness, Budhi expected the government's support in its program to encourage traditional plus shrimp cultivation. "The shrimp export target will not be achieved by 2024. Indonesian shrimp farming is currently not in a good condition. [Indonesia’s] competitiveness at the global level is decreasing," Budhi said when contacted on Saturday (1/4/2023).

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

A worker prepares vannamei shrimp seeds in an Area-Based Shrimp Cultivation pond in Kebumen Regency, Central Java, Thursday (9/3/2023).

Shrimp Club Indonesia chairman Haris Muhtadi said the white spot attack had prompted premature shrimp harvests. He said Indonesian shrimp faced stiff competition from the world’s large producing countries, such as Ecuador, Vietnam and India.

Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa were also mentioned as new potential competitors in the shrimp industry. Saudi Arabia is reported to be continuing its shrimp ponds ramification with the support of technology and feed procurement from China.

Haris said it was urgent to improve national shrimp production through production efficiency and look to new potential markets, such as China and European countries.

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Traditional plus

Budhi said the traditional plus cultivation method had been encouraged to increase national shrimp production. He said turning the traditional cultivation system, which currently dominates the national shrimp pond area with between 250,000 and 300,000 hectares, into traditional plus cultivation would increase shrimp production.

Traditional plus shrimp cultivation, which requires a low density of around 10 shrimp seedlings per square meter of pond, is also hailed as more sustainable because it does not exploit the environment excessively. The method is also believed to help increase Indonesia's "branding" in the global market. The shift from traditional to traditional plus also does not require large capital. There is little need for additional costs for feed and aerators.

The problem lies in low salinity. Therefore, the government is expected to help improve pond irrigation systems, for example by dredging river mouths.

This article was translated by Musthofid.