ABUNDANT HARVEST! Catfish Farming Using the Biofloc-Azolla System by the BDA Team from Unsri and the Khoiru Ummah Tahfiz School

As a food basket, South Sumatra (Sumsel) continues to promote various innovations in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries among its communities, including in Palembang.  

The community service program at Sriwijaya University (Unsri) plays a role in implementing and applying research findings to develop technological innovations that can be used to improve the well-being of the people of Palembang.  

Sematang Borang is one of the subdistricts in the city of Palembang that has a Fish Farming Village.  

The development of fish farming groups continues to grow in line with the increasing demand for fish consumption both in the city of Palembang, South Sumatra,

This growth supports not only domestic fish consumption in Indonesia but also exports to other countries.  

The Aquaculture (BDA) Study Program in the Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, Unsri, is actively involved in developing various fish farming innovations in the swamp areas of South Sumatra, including Palembang. 

The collaboration between the Unsri Faculty of Agriculture—specifically the BDA Program—and the Khoiru Ummah Tahfiz School began last year.

This collaboration involves the development of a biofloc-based catfish farming system using swamp probiotics, leading to the production of ready-to-cook seasoned frozen fish.  

This year marks the continuation of a community service program that places greater emphasis on the use of Azolla to maintain water quality while also serving as a feed supplement for farmed catfish.  

This activity is part of Unsri’s integrated community service program, carried out by the BDA Team led by Dr. Marini Wijayanti, S.Pi., M.Si.

The activity began in July 2024 with preparations carried out together with BDA students and alumni through field practice and the application of research results. 

The objective of this student academic activity—which integrates the application of BDA’s research innovations to address community challenges—aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically: 

1. End poverty (1), 

2. End hunger (2), 

3. Responsible consumption and production (12), 

4. Life below water (14).  

These goals can be achieved with the full support of the Unsri Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) and the support system consistently implemented by the government to improve community well-being.

The establishment of demonstration plots on the grounds of the Khoiru Ummah Tahfiz School and in the yards of the surrounding community is expected to serve as pilot sites.

These demonstration plots are intended for community members who are already engaged in fish farming or who are interested in developing fish farming using this system. 

The team noted that fish farming is gaining popularity among the people of Palembang because many of their backyards are often waterlogged, especially during the rainy season. 

Acidic swamp land (with a measured pH of 3–4) requires liming before it can be used for fish farming.  

It’s not just a matter of acidic and rusty water, but also high ammonia levels in the swamp waters—especially in absorption areas with large accumulations of organic matter.  

During the dry season, dwindling water sources and the faster formation of ammonia cause water quality to deteriorate even more rapidly.  

This means that liming alone is insufficient for preparing water sources for fish farming.  

The use of probiotics as a biofloc starter is also necessary to reduce ammonia levels exceeding 1 mg per liter in aquaculture water.  

In addition, aquatic plants can also be used to help maintain the water quality of the aquaculture medium.  

Choosing the biofloc system for catfish farming is an effective way to reduce pollution from fish farming waste in the surrounding environment. At the same time, it can improve feed efficiency as well as fish growth and survival rates.