CHAMBER TO BEGIN FOCUSING ON SHRIMP BUSINESS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 20 (Antara) - Amid government efforts to revitalize idle shrimp ponds and develop pilot projects in 32 districts across the country, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) will commence shrimp cultivation early this year.          In the future, the Kadin sees bright prospects for the shrimp aquaculture business in Indonesia, as the prices of this commodity are showing a bullish trend in the global market.          The bright prospects have also encouraged the government to develop pilot shrimp demonstration farm (demfarm) projects in 32 districts in its seven provinces, which include Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), South Sulawesi, and Lampung.          "Right now, the prospects of the shrimp commodity look promising," Kadin Chairman for Fisheries Affairs Yugi Prananto stated here on Wednesday last week.

CENTRAL SULAWESI EAGER TO BECOME SHRIMP CENTER

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 20 (Antara) - As the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) plans to focus on shrimp aquaculture early this year, the Central Sulawesi Province is determined to become one of Indonesia's key shrimp production centers.          The Kadin has forecast that the shrimp business has bright prospects in the future, as the price of this commodity is rising. The businesses operating under the Kadin will start focusing on shrimp cultivation.          "The prospects of shrimp farming are bright, and it is the right time to develop shrimp ponds," Yugi Pranoto, Kadin chairman for Marine Affairs and Fisheries stated on Wednesday, last week.          Therefore, Central Sulawesi, one of the provinces in eastern Indonesia, which has a marine and fisheries potential, decided to exploit the opportunity to develop its fisheries potential, particularly shrimp cultivation, in order to become a shrimp production center.

RI ENCOURAGING INVESTMENTS IN PROMISING SHRIMP AQUACULTURE BUSINESS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 12 (Antara) - Many businesses are being encouraged to make investments in shrimp aquaculture, while the government carries out a revitalization program in the sector, which is seen as a promising business with good prospects for the future.          The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is encouraging its members to step up investment in shrimp cultivation to increase the country's shrimp production to meet overseas market demand.          Kadin Deputy Chairman Yugi Prayanto stated that Kadin was interested in developing a shrimp project because the price of shrimp was appreciating and because Indonesia was already using shrimp cultivation technology.          "Overseas demand for shrimp is showing an upward trend," Yugi Prayanto said on Monday, adding that Kadin was considering investing in the fishery cultivation sector, particularly in shrimp cultivation.          The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) had predicted that Thailand and China's demand for shrimps would remain high, and their domestic production was not enough to meet it. This would force the two countries to continue importing the commodity.

RI REVITALIZING SHRIMP CULTIVATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 10 (Antara) - When Indonesia was hit by a financial crisis in 1998 and the rupiah value nosedived from about Rp2400 to Rp16,000 per US dollar, shrimp farmers in the country found themselves to be in the golden era.          While others have to make careful calculation for their spending, traditional shrimp farmers reaped big amount of money as they enjoyed the high value of the greenback from shrimp exports.          Unluckily, the golden era did not last long for traditional shrimp farmers as in following years a shrimp virus type spread in many parts of the country.          Massive death of shrimps at ponds often caused farmers to suffer a huge loss. As a consequence, many farmers stopped cultivating shrimps, shifting to other kinds of fish or leaving their ponds idle.          Now the government is doing its best to revive the spirit of shrimp farmers by launching a shrimp pond revitalization program.         The government is providing a budget of Rp240 billion for the revitalization of idle shrimp ponds. It also set a target to produce 608,000 tons shrimps this year.          The target for this year was set after it has revitalized 1,000 hectares of idle shrimp ponds last year in the northern cost of West Java and Banten. Provisional figure of shrimp production in 2012 was recorded at 457,600 tons.