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Nurturing Children’s Nutrition, Women’s Business Group Develops Fish and Plant Cultivation in Buckets

News

Animal-based protein, as reported in the SehatNegeriku page from Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, is considered have a more complete nutritional content. Complete essential amino acids in animal-based protein are important for children to consume as it plays a major role in helping children’s intelligence growth. According to the Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, low animal-based protein intake can cause stunting that align with other researches in 49 countries.

The Women’s Business Group (KUMP) “Sukses Bersama” in Sekongkang Village, West Sumbawa Regency (KSB), is working to fulfil the need for animal-based protein for children. Utilizing a fish-in-a-bucket cultivation method (budikdamber). They do catfish farming alongside vegetables crops. This initiative aims to enhance children’s nutritional intake in KSB and part of the accelerate stunting reduction program, a collaboration of PT Amman Mineral, the KSB Government, and Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP).

Hadiah, Chair of the Sukses Bersama Women’s Business Group (KUMP), shared that the group members have been raising catfish since July 2024 with support and guidance from CARE. This collaboration and hands-on mentoring from YCP have been instrumental in helping the group establish sustainable catfish cultivation. Through their combined efforts, they now consistently produce between 5 and 10 kilograms of catfish per month. “Our primary motivation for raising catfish is to provide a reliable source of animal protein for our children and families,” she said.

Hadiah further shared that the eight KUMP members participating in the budikdamber initiative each maintain two buckets in their yards. “Currently, there are a total of 16 buckets of catfish,” she noted.

The successful catfish cultivation has allowed Hadiah and her group members to earn additional income for their families. “We usually sell the catfish at Rp35,000 per kilogram, and customers can choose between live fish or prepared dishes,” Hadiah added.

Hadiah optimizes the catfish sales from budikdamber initiative by selling online on social media accounts. “Each time we harvest the catfish, after setting aside what’s needed for family meals, the other members and I immediately promote it on Facebook. It helps reduce operational costs since we only need a mobile phone. The local community also uses Facebook, so it’s easier to inform them when the catfish are ready for sale,” she explained.

In addition to catfish, Hadiah and her fellow members also use the budikdamber system to meet their families’ daily vegetable needs. Each member can harvest three bundles of water spinach and mustard greens planted on top of the buckets once a week. “These vegetables from the budikdamber system provide us with a convenient source of greens, reducing the need to buy vegetables frequently,” Hadiah added.

Muhammad Ikraman, Project Manager at YCP in KSB, explained that this bucket-based cultivation model supports family economic strengthening in the village, particularly for households with children in stunting condtion. “This method is very accessible, as it requires minimal space and can be set up right in the backyard. KUMP members receive training on budikdamber, which we’ve organized in collaboration with the West Sumbawa District Fisheries and Marine Department and experienced trainers,” Ikraman shared.

Ikraman explained, moving forward, the budikdamber cultivation method will continue to be developed to enhance its efficiency in producing nutritional sources to help address stuntinga

Writer: Muhammad Ikaraman 
Editor: Kukuh A. Tohari and Swiny Adestika 

Meet Raffa: Now Loving Veggies and Growing Stronger

Stories

Raffa Maulana, a two-year-old boy from Ai Kangkung Village, West Sumbawa District (KSB), has shown significant growth over the past four months. Raffa’s weight and height have entered the normal category, according to his age.

Baiq Juliantin, Raffa’s mother, excitedly shared the rapid growth of her son. In June 2024, Raffa weighted 10.4 kilograms, then in September became 11.5 kilograms. Raffa’s height also increased 3 centimeters, which in June his height was 80.4 centimeters, then in September measurements became 83.7 centimeters. Baiq explained, Raffa’s average weight gain of 0.4 kilograms per month and height growth of 1.1 centimeters per month, was inseparable from the provision Additional Nutritious Meal (PMT) Recovery Raffa received for 90 days. The meals were served with a 4-star menu and presented in an attractive arrangement.

“I am very grateful that Raffa’s weight and height are now in the normal category according to his age at the last weighing in September. The meals that he received were always arranged attractively by the cadres. Attractive shapes were made, including the presentation of vegetables. My son always excited when his food arrives and his appetite increased. Raffa used to dislike vegetables, but now he even excited to eat moringa vegetables,” said Baiq recalling when her son excitement receiving meals from the Healthy Kitchen for Stunting (DASHAT) team.

Provision Additional Nutritious Meal (PMT) Recovery managed by the DASHAT team is part of the stunting reduction acceleration program, a collaboration between PT Amman Mineral, the West Sumbawa District Government and Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP), implemented in 16 villages. The DAHSAT team also plays active role in assisting and providing family consultations, including parenting classes, with YCP.

Baiq explained, from the parenting classes provided by the DASHAT Team, she gained a better understanding on the importance of providing food with complete nutrition such as carbohydrates, animal-based protein, plant-based protein and vegetables. According to Baiq, the parenting classes also conveyed the utilization of plants that are easy to be planted in house yard, the meal creation and presentation that favourable to children, and knowledge about child growth and development. Baiq further shared, with Raffa’s increasing preference for vegetables, she has become more active in utilizing her yard by planting various types of vegetables. Now she can fulfil a four-star menu that meets her son’s nutritional needs.

“Now I make food according to his preference. I am happy to be able to fulfil Raffa’s nutritional needs from the vegetables in our yard,” said Baiq.

Muhammad Ikraman, YCP Project Manager in KSB said, Raffa’s growth had stalled due to improper management of food nutrition intake and family economic limitations. He explained, Raffa’s nutritional intake needs were able to be met after Raffa’s mother was active in parenting classes and attended counselling conducted by the DASHAT team.

“Through the parenting classes she attended, Mrs. Baiq can now understand the sources of affordable and nutritious food around her residence. Such as the use of fish as a main source of animal-based protein which is obtained at a low price because the location where she lives is close to the ocean. She also started to raise chickens at her house as alternative source of animal-based protein. Meeting the need for vegetables became easier as Mrs. Baiq now able to pick the veggies from her small garden,” said Ikraman.

Ikraman further shared, Raffa’s development will continue to be monitored to see his growth through the PMT program conducted by Ai Kangkung Village Government (Pemdes). “The support from the Ai Kangkung Village Government is extraordinary. They have allocated existing village funds to run PMT, including counselling sessions related to stunting and providing complementary foods from the local Puskesmas. These efforts are made so that Raffa’s growth continues to develop well and consistently,” he concluded.

Author: Muhammad Ikaraman
Editors: Kukuh A. Tohari and Swiny Adestika