Human resource development training course in Indonesia

 Participants of the on-site HRD training courses on Inland fisheries development and Rural aquaculture AQD provided technical support during the conduct of the Human resource development (HRD) training on catfish culture held in Boyolali Regency, Central Java, Indonesia last October 20-24.

The training is part of the HRD on-site training course on rural aquaculture organized by the Indonesian Departmen Kelautan dan Perikanan (Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries) under the HRD on poverty alleviation and food security by fisheries intervention in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Region. It is funded by the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund of the ASEAN Foundation.

AQD Scientist Dr. Ma. Lourdes Aralar and Associate Researcher Ms. Antonietta Evangelista were on hand to provide support and observe the conduct of the training.

Fifteen trainees attended two HRD courses which were conducted at that time: Inland fisheries development and Rural aquaculture. These courses focused on the seed production and grow-out of the Dumbo catfish, respectively.

The site for the inland fisheries development training course is the Kampung Benih Lele (Catfish Seed Village), a few kilometers from the Kampung Lele (Catfish Village) where Dr. Aralar and Ms. Evangelista were assigned.

According to Dr. Aralar and Ms. Evangelista, Catfish Village is already well-versed in catfish culture but they still need training on nutrition, feed formulation, and disease management.

The farmers in Catfish Village harvest 8 to 11 tons of catfish daily within an aggregate pond area of 21 hectares. Individual ponds are small (ranging in size from 20 to 60 sq. m) and achieve a feed conversion rate (FCR) of 0.8 to 1 using commercial feeds with a stocking density of 300 to 500 pcs/sq. m.

On the last day, Ms. Evangelista was requested to deliver a lecture on natural food which was given in plenary with both groups of trainees in attendance. Ms Evangelista’s lecture was given in English but translation to Bahasa Indonesia was provided.