SEAFDEC/IFRDMD Collaborates with RIIFE to Support Capacity Building for Fisheries Officers from Way Kanan Regency
South Sumatra, Indonesia, October 23, 2026 – The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Inland Fishery Resources Development and Management Department (SEAFDEC/IFRDMD) collaborated with the Research Institute for Inland Fisheries and Extension (RIIFE) to strengthen the technical skills of fisheries officers from Way Kanan Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia, through a four-day capacity-building program held October 20–23, 2026.
The program brought together 15 civil servants from the Way Kanan Regency Fisheries Office for a combination of classroom sessions and hands-on training at three locations in South Sumatra: the RIIFE and SEAFDEC/IFRDMD headquarters in Jakabaring, the Installations for Pilots and Technological Innovations in Marine and Fisheries Extension in Keramasan, and the Smart Fisheries Village in Mariana.
Led by Mr. Edyansah, Head of the Way Kanan Regency Fisheries Office, the delegation was welcomed by Mr. Rezki Antoni Suhaimi, Head of RIIFE. The participants represented various fisheries functions, including planning, aquaculture, extension services, fish seed production, and field operations.
Connecting Aquaculture Policy with Practical Skills
The technical sessions began on October 21 at the RIIFE and SEAFDEC/IFRDMD headquarters in Jakabaring. Dr. Dina Muthmainnah introduced policies for sustainable freshwater aquaculture development, followed by sessions on freshwater aquaculture technologies and basic farming practices led by Mr. Aroef Hukmanan Rais and Ms. Sevi Sawestri.
Ms. Ni Komang Suryati discussed aquaculture business feasibility and farm-made feed, highlighting the importance of combining sound production practices with practical business considerations.
The program emphasized learning by doing, with approximately 35% of the sessions devoted to theory and 65% to practical activities. This approach allowed participants to connect technical knowledge with its application in aquaculture operations.
Exploring Affordable Feed and Fish Farming Techniques
On October 22, participants visited the demonstration facility in Keramasan, where Ms. Melfa Marini led practical sessions on producing floating fish feed using fermented tofu-processing residue and starch gelatinization. The sessions introduced ways to use locally available ingredients as potential alternatives for producing affordable aquaculture feed.
Mr. Firdaus, a fisheries extension officer, also provided theoretical and practical instruction on giant gourami farming, giving participants an opportunity to explore farming techniques that could be applied in the field.
The final day, October 23, took place at the Smart Fisheries Village in Mariana. Led by Ms. Ike Trismawanti, the sessions focused on pangasius hatchery techniques, combining classroom instruction with hands-on activities to familiarize participants with fish seed production practices.
Building Local Capacity for Sustainable Aquaculture
By combining policy discussions, technical instruction, and field practice, the program provided an opportunity for fisheries officers to expand their knowledge of freshwater aquaculture, feed production, fish farming, hatchery operations, and business feasibility.
The collaboration between RIIFE and SEAFDEC/IFRDMD also highlighted the importance of knowledge sharing between research institutions and local governments. The knowledge and practical skills gained through the program are expected to help fisheries officers provide more effective technical guidance to fish farmers and support sustainable aquaculture development in Way Kanan Regency.
Through continued collaboration and capacity building, SEAFDEC/IFRDMD and RIIFE contribute to strengthening inland fisheries and aquaculture development in Indonesia.