REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia is keen to take over international shrimp market following emerging disease early mortality syndrome (EMS) that has caused mass mortalities among shrimp farmers in China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand.
Director General of Aquaculture at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Slamet Subiakto, said the demand for Indonesian shrimp was surging amid the lack of supply from other shrimp producing countries.
"Only Indonesia who is not affected by EMS. This is our opportunity to produce shrimp," he said during the harvest of Vaname shrimp in demonstration farming (demfarm) in Indramayu.
Government currently develops 1,000 hectares of demfarm in Indramayu, Karawang, Subang, Serang and Tangerang. Government targets to expand the farm up to 2,000 hectares by 2013 in East Java, South Sulawesi, Lampung, and North Sumatera.
He hopes the 1,000 hectares demfarm can contribute up to 45,000 tonnes of shrimp per year worth 2.25 trillion IDR. By 2014, government targets to produce 200,000 tonnes shrimp per year from 20,000 hectares demfarm.
