Rice-fish farming developed by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) through the Directorate General of Aquatic (DGA) has shown its results. Working together with the Food and Agriculture (FAO) and the Local Government of the District of Sleman, MMoF has been implementing the pilot project on rice-fish farming in the village of Kandangan, Margodadi and Village Cibuk Kidul of Margoluwih, sub-district of Seyegan, Sleman.

"The result is satisfactorily. The Rice-fish pilot-project land covering 25 ha in 2 villages have been able to increase the farmers' income. This can be made as a model for other places having the same potentials as this District of Sleman, Yogyakarta," stated the Director General of Aquatic, Slamet Soebjakto, on the sidelines of the very first harvest of red tilapia Rice-fish farmed in the village of Kandangan, Margodadi, Seyegan sub-district, Sleman, Yogyakarta.

rice-fish farming enables the practice of aqua culture without having to change the function of the rice-farming fields. Besides improving the land's productivity, rice-fish has, in reality, increase the farmers' income. "The example is this first harvest of rice-fish farming in the village of Kandangan, Margodadi, Seyegan sub-district, Sleman. It is projected that out of 1,000 m2 of rice-fish farming land, we will be able to harvest 150 kg red tilapia and 900 kg of rice grains. With the red tilapia's selling price of IDR 18,000/kg (5-6 fish) and the dry rice-grain is around IDR 4,000/kg, the farmer will receive around IDR 6.3 million in 3 months. This is much more compared to the harvest of paddy-farming which only results in around 700-800 dry rice-grains", explained Slamet.

Slamet added that this success of rice-fish farming in Sleman is also a very good example of all-sectors' synergy and cooperation to support food and nutrition sovereignty as well as to improve the welfare of village people. "Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) are in synergy towards the same goal. Supported by the World Organization such as FAO, that is going to make the rice-fish farming in Indonesia a model for other countries. Rice-fish farming is also very much in line with the program of the Ministry (MAMF), in accordance to the guideline given by the Minister herself, Ms. Susi Pudjiastuti, to build and develop Indonesia's independent aqua culture that is both competitive and sustainable," added Slamet.

FAO: Triple Win Farming Practice
Over the past two years, FAO has worked with the Government of Indonesia on rice – fish farming initiative which forms part of regional effort in the Asia Pacific Region to upscale innovative Mina Padi (rice-fish farming, based on the success of demonstration farm in Indonesia. This activity is part of FAO Regional Initiative called, "Sustainable Intensification of Aquaculture for Blue Growth in Asia Pacific,"
There are two districts in Indonesia chosen as the rice fish farming demonstration farms, District of Sleman in Yogyakarta and Limapuluh Kota in West Sumatra. Total 50 hectares rice fish fields have been clustered to demonstrate the rice-fish farming, around 600 thousand fingerlings have been distributed to the farmers, and more than 300 farmers involved in the two districts.

FAO approaches use an integrated cluster management and innovative technology, will help a small scale farmer to adopt this method. Together, as a group, the farmers involved in the whole process of rice fish farming that include land preparation, seeding, feeding, weeding, harvesting, marketing and agro-tourism.

"Rice fish Farming can be referred to as triple win farming practice, as it increase yields, increases incomes, and improves the nutritional value on the harvest consisting of both rice and fish, "Mark Smulders FAO Representative said on the side line of the fish harvest this morning.

A regional workshop, with 15 country participant from the Asia –Pacific, is started in Yogyakarta today, to share the project outputs and to exchange up to date rice rice fish farming technique, knowledge and innovative practices. The countries participants are including: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Srilanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.