August 2015—Fish farmers in parts of Indonesia are sometimes left fishing for answers when they have questions regarding their work, and delays in responses can be costly. But through mobile technology, access to an informational database or live help from an expert is now available at their fingertips.

In 2014, USAID teamed up with an Indonesian start-up company, 8Villages, to launch AquaFIS—the Aqua Farmer Information System. The mobile phone service helps small-scale aquaculture farmers in Indonesia access real-time data through SMS, android applications or online forums.

“I belong to a farmers’ group, but rarely attend meetings or discussions because I do not feel comfortable since the other members are about my father’s age,” said Ahmad Ansori, a 24-year-old farmer from Banyuwangi. “I usually rely on the Internet to get information. I am happy to know that now there are mobile extension services.”

As aquaculture becomes more widespread, with an estimated 80 percent of production coming from family-scale operations, there is a growing need for timely industry information that leads to more sustainable production practices, higher prices and improved product quality. Farmers no longer need to rely strictly on irregular training and consultations from experts and extension agents.

With just a few clicks, farmers can find out when and how much to feed their fish, which type of feed to use for their particular species of fish, or how to treat disease. They can also ask any other questions they may have when face-to-face consultation or training is not available. And a daily SMS gives out farming tips and welcomes questions.

AquaFIS helps close the growing disparity in knowledge and skills, especially among smallholder farmers who live in remote areas and may have waited days for assistance. The system has already garnered more than 450 users since its launch in September 2014.

“The improvement of rice farming practices have led to production increases,” said 8Villages General Manager Anita Hesti. “Their buyer/seller networks have expanded and they also have increased access to finance. Given these successes, it seemed natural to seek out opportunities in other agricultural areas, including aquaculture. We are excited to initiate this pilot in partnership with USAID and several Indonesian academic institutions.”

Demand for fish continues to rise while the current volume of ocean harvest cannot be increased without dramatic, negative consequences for the environment and the region’s economy. Aquaculture plays a key role in long-term food security, particularly in Asia, where diets include proportionally more fish than other regions of the world.

8Villages plans to expand the services to other parts of Indonesia and other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Eventually, the platform will create a network between aquaculture farmers across the region and the multiple players in the aquaculture value chain including local fishing companies, input suppliers, buyer and producer organizations, and microfinance institutions.

The AquaFIS project is part of the U.S. Government's global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future. Under the initiative, USAID promotes more sustainable and efficient use of aquaculture and fishery resources in ASEAN countries, where fish and fishery products are significant sources of food and income. USAID works with business organizations, farmer groups, governments, research institutions and NGOs to adopt better aquaculture production practice and fisheries management.

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