Four Villages Of Padangpanjang Develop Mina-Padi Program

Padangpanjang, W. Sumatra, Jan 14 (ANTARA) - Four villages in the Padangpanjang sub-district of West Sumatra have developed freshwater aquaculture through the mina-padi program. "The villages are Koto Panjang, Manggis Village, Tanah Pak Lambik, and Ekor Lubuk Village," said Zetrial, an officer of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries Padangpanjang, here on Sunday. The mina-padi program involves a technique of cultivating rice paddies and fish together in the fields. The fish species cultivated here are carp, but if there is high rainfall, cork fish may be found. He noted that the development of freshwater aquaculture is managed by groups of local farmers. "There are about seven farmer groups that develop mina-padi programs in four villages, with a land area of about two hectares," he said. The development of freshwater fish farming is to optimise the use of the field and to increase the farmers` income. "In the future, we will add more sites in a number of villages to maximise agricultural productivity," he remarked. The local government also assists the farmers with developing freshwater aquaculture by offering them fish seed. "We have distributed approximately 500 thousand tilapia fish seeds to seven farmer groups in four sub-districts," he stated. He acknowledged that the program has been running without any significant results so far that fulfill the farmers� needs. "We hope the result in the future will improve to help the economy," he said. As part of this program, the farmers are required to return the seeds to the local government. "The Agricultural Department does not charge the farmers involved in the program. They are only required to return the seeds to the local government. The result of the development will benefit society," he explained. Zetrial remarked that the development of fish seeds in Padangpanjang, which lies at an altitude of more than 700 meters above sea level, is not difficult. The development of some 700 thousand fish seeds of various types, such as mujahir and gold fish, in Padangpanjang is now the largest project in the area.