PPK Ormawa Himakua IPB University Socialises the Gemarikan with the Nusantara Fish Festival
IPB University students who are members of the Ormawa Capacity Strengthening Program (PPKO) of the Aquaculture Student Association (Himakua) socialised Gemarikan in Purwasari Village, Bogor, 17/9. This socialisation is in collaboration with the Directorate General (Dirjen) of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP), Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).
The Gemarikan Movement is a movement to socialise eating fish in the 2023 Nusantara Fish Festival (FINA). This movement is an effort to get people to consume fish more often.
Agus Wijatmoko as the Person in Charge of Production Improvement, Directorate of Processing and Quality, Directorate General of PDSPKP KKP said the event aims to provide education about the potential and benefits of fishery products. He said the movement also seeks to encourage people to consume fishery products, both farmed and caught fish.
“Fish was chosen because it is a highly nutritious food source and contains Omega-3 which is good for children’s brain development. In addition, fish is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and has a low cholesterol content. The benefits of consuming fish regularly can prevent stunting in children as well as prevent heart disease and reduce the risk of stroke,” said Agus Wijatmoko, Chairman of the 2023 Nusantara Fish Festival.
Meanwhile, Aditya Ariyudanto from the Bogor District Fisheries and Livestock Service Office, revealed that Indonesia has enormous fisheries potential. This potential, he said, can be a national protein resource that can be utilised to increase national fish consumption, especially in West Java Province.
“This FINA activity is in line with one of the KKP’s programmes, namely the Fish Eating Socialisation Movement (Gemarikan) to disseminate the increase in national fish consumption and still needs massive support at all levels,” he said.
The Nusantara Fish Festival event is not just about sharing fish with the public. This momentum was also used to introduce products and socialise the making of tilapia baby fish made by the Purwasari Village Women Farmers Group (KWT). Tilapia baby fish can be a new idea for the community to keep consuming fish in other forms. This innovation can also foster a sense of creativity among mothers to create processed fish that are healthy and have high nutritional value. This baby fish comes from hatchery activities carried out by applying semi-automatic incubator technology.
Yusuf Mustofa, Head of Purwasari Village stated, “Since the community here has a very low fish consumption level, this socialisation activity must be carried out continuously. This Gemarikan activity is a reminder of the importance of eating fish for the community so as to create a healthy, strong and smart generation. Not only that, Gemarikan becomes one of the momentum to build public awareness to make protein intake from fish.” (IAAS/RUM)
