REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEKASI -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was present at a shrimp harvest at the social forestry pond in Muara Gembong, Bekasi District, West Java Province, on Wednesday. He acknowledged that shrimp farming is a risky business but the profits are also big.

"It started in November 2017, and at that time, we forecast that in February 2018, it would be its first harvest," Jokowi noted.

However, the first harvest failed, as the shrimps died of virus. The second harvest did not give satisfactory result, and this time, the harvest gave expected results for the farmers, he added.

President Joko Widodo visits vannamei shrimp farm in Muara Gembong, Bekasi, West Java, Wednesday (Jan 30).

The local shrimp farmers should be patient in order to get satisfactory results, he added.

"The demand for this shrimp is huge, so the profits are also big, but it is quite risky (business)," he remarked.

The breeding of vannamei shrimp in Bekasi also helped to improve environmental management in the region, he remarked. Shrimp breeding in Bekasi has involved farmers, the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry, Forestry Ministry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Bank Mandiri, and the local government.

Jokowi was accompanied by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, and State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno.

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