Catfish Farming Boosts Income, Community Welfare Fund For KRT Taman Mutiara/Sutera

ALOR GAJAH, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- A catfish farming project launched with an initial capital of just RM3,000 about two years ago has grown into a steady source of supplementary income and a contributor to the community welfare fund of the Taman Mutiara/Sutera Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) here.

The neighbourhood watch committee chairman Mas Fairuz Kamarudin said the small-scale project, which began with 10 tanks in December 2024, has expanded to 20 tanks after receiving RM24,000 under the Progressive Rukun Tetangga (RTP) initiative from the National Unity Ministry in September last year.

“At the initial stage, the project was funded by 10 residents, each contributing RM300 per tank stocked with 500 catfish fingerlings.

“The project was driven by the community from the outset, without prior experience or guidance, before later receiving support from the Fisheries Department and the Melaka Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN),” he told Bernama recently.

He said the project employs a self-developed recirculating aquaculture system to control odour and maintain water quality, but initially faced challenges, including fingerling mortality rates of up to 40 per cent and marketing issues.

With assistance from various agencies, the project now produces about 500 kilogrammes of catfish a month, generating gross revenue of around RM4,000 at RM8 per kilogramme.

Mas Fairuz said the operation records a net monthly profit of more than RM2,000 after operating costs, including fingerlings, feed and utilities.

“The project generates additional income for participating community members, provides part-time employment for residents, offers sales commissions to community agents, and contributes to the neighbourhood welfare fund for emergency needs,” he said.

Ten residents, who were the project’s original investors, are directly involved in daily operations, including monitoring water quality, feeding, processing, packaging and sales.

In addition to fresh catfish, the project also produces frozen, smoked and masak lemak cili api catfish products based on customer demand. These are marketed via TikTok, direct sales at the farming site and at stalls during programmes organised by JPNIN Melaka.

Looking ahead, Mas Fairuz said the KRT committee has applied for a larger site near the neighbourhood, with plans to expand production to 150 catfish tanks. The committee is also considering establishing a cooperative to strengthen operations and ensure long-term sustainability.

“We continue to hope for sustained government support, particularly in funding, technical training and the adoption of modern technology such as retort processing, so that this community project can continue to grow and benefit more residents,” he said.

-- BERNAMA