BANTEN — This distinctive Serang culinary delight continues to thrive and remains a popular choice among tourists. What else could it be but milkfish satay? Milkfish has become one of the attractions of Serang Regency. Not limited to satay, a variety of dishes made from this abundantly spiny fish can be easily found on every street in Serang Regency. The results of milkfish aquaculture including bandeng pecak, bandeng picungan, pepes bandeng, and bandeng pindang.
Milkfish is often featured in dishes at major events, such as religious and cultural ceremonies, and is also a common choice for family gatherings, weddings, or other celebrations. Linduk Village, in the Pontang District, is one of the villages renowned for its expertise in milkfish aquaculture.
Regrettably, their homeland is now predominantly controlled by capitalist companies. Even more disheartening is the fact that they have become agricultural and aquaculture laborers on land that was once theirs. How did this situation arise? Acculturation and economics play significant roles. The social demands and the stigma that being a laborer is preferable to being a farmer/breeder have led many in Pontang to sell their ancestral lands.
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The Pontang District is characterized by its expansive rice fields. This area was once one of the major rice granaries in Banten, with a considerable number of residents engaged in the fishing sector, particularly in milkfish and shrimp aquaculture. Its proximity to the Java Sea supports the area’s fishing activities.
Through the integration of Islamic philanthropic funds, namely zakat and endowment, the Dompet Dhuafa Banten Branch strives to offer solutions to the Pontang community. Dompet Dhuafa Banten initiated calls for land liberation endowments in 2019, rallying several endowers to participate in this effort. Consequently, in 2021, a plot of land spanning 6,500 square meters was liberated with endowment status. This land was then utilized for milkfish aquaculture programs with productive zakat funds.
Mokhlas Pidono, the Manager of Dompet Dhuafa Banten Branch, stated that the endowment price per square meter of land was IDR 25,000. Following the liberation of the land, Dompet Dhuafa proceeded to clean up, thoroughly review the program, and identify suitable benefit recipients.
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In October 2023, the program commenced with the planting of 3,000 milkfish fry. Large milkfish typically reach harvestable size 4-5 months after breeding. By February 2024, the harvesting process was set to begin.
“The benefit recipients were selected based on their experience in managing ponds since they had also previously worked as laborers in others’ ponds. They were struggling to find livelihoods,” Mokhlas explained on Saturday (3/2/2024).
Kamhar (43) is one of the benefit recipients. His family has a longstanding tradition of fishing and aquaculture. However, he currently owns no land and often has to rent land from others to engage in aquaculture.
“I’ve always been involved in shrimp cultivation and also worked as a laborer in others’ milkfish ponds. The earnings weren’t much, mainly because I had to pay pond rent. It was barely enough to buy kerosene, cooking oil, and rice,” he shared on Saturday (3/2/2024).
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Kamhar expressed his gratitude to Dompet Dhuafa for not having to rent a pond from someone else this time. The issue of capital was supported by Dompet Dhuafa. He is determined to make the most of this opportunity and is willing to share his aquaculture knowledge and experience with others.
Kamhar and another beneficiary, Hamami, received capital in the form of rent-free land, seeds, feed, equipment, etc. Subsequently, Dompet Dhuafa Banten provided mentoring, support, and marketing for the harvested produce. In addition to milkfish aquaculture, the benefit recipients also derive income from netting and shrimp cultivation.
“Without support and assistance, they might use the proceeds from the first harvest as capital for the next cycle and so on,” Mokhlas added.
It is estimated that each benefit recipient will earn a net profit of IDR 7.5 million per harvest.
The seeds sown totaled 3,000 fry. Accounting for a mortality rate of 20 percent, approximately 2,400 fish are expected to be harvestable. If each kilogram contains 4 fish, the harvest would yield 600 kilograms. Multiplying by the farmer’s selling price of IDR 35,000, the total turnover would be IDR 21 million. A portion, IDR 6 million, will be set aside for the next capital, aiming for each beneficiary to earn an income around IDR 7.5 million. (Dompet Dhuafa/Muthohar)