June 24, 2026
 

Rising aquafeed costs force majority of fish farmers in Indonesia's Banjar City to halt operations

Feed prices have risen from Rp380,000 to Rp400,000 per 30kg sack, with fish farmer groups calling for government feed subsidies as thin margins push operators out of production.

Fish farming groups in Banjar City, West Java, Indonesia, are calling on the government to introduce subsidised feed assistance after rising aquafeed prices eroded margins to the point where the majority of operators in some groups have stopped production.

Feed prices have increased from Rp380,000 to Rp400,000 per 30kg sack (approximately US$15.69), a rise of Rp20,000 per sack. With feed requirements exceeding one tonne per growing season, the cost increase has significantly compressed returns. One farmer group representative said approximately 80% of members have ceased operations, with only three out of ten farmers continuing to produce.

Yoyon Cuhyon, Head of the Banjar City Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Office, acknowledged the farmers' concerns but confirmed there is currently no government feed subsidy programme for the aquaculture sector, with existing agricultural subsidies limited to rice paddy fertiliser. He suggested farmer groups explore self-manufactured alternative feed as a cost-reduction measure, though acknowledged this remains subject to raw material availability.

- Harapan Rakyat