From Two Ponds To 68 Tanks: Kampung Paya Rumput's Fish Farming Project Reaps Success

ALOR GAJAH, April 16  (Bernama) -- After nearly two years of implementing a freshwater fish farming project, which is a Sejati MADANI Project under the Agriculture and Food sector, the  Kampung Paya Rumput Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) in Masjid Tanah is reaping the rewards of the initiative, now producing about two tonnes of tilapia and catfish monthly.

Its secretary, Dzalin Ayub, 58, said the committee received an allocation of RM100,000 from the Coordination and Implementation Unit (ICU)  of the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) to kickstart the project by the end of May 2024, following an application submitted in March that year.

“This freshwater fish farming project actually began as my personal effort back in 2016 after I retired from the private sector.

“After learning about the Sejati MADANI Project, I proposed the idea to the JPKK members, who agreed to expand the tilapia and catfish farming activities I had already started,” he told Bernama.

To ensure consistent production, Dzalin also invested RM300,000 of his own funds into the project.

“Alhamdulillah, what started with just two canvas ponds has now grown into 68 tanks, each with a capacity of 3,000 litres, along with seven cement ponds and a reservoir pond across 0.2 hectares of land.

“Last year alone, we produced about 18 tonnes of freshwater fish, and the profits were shared with the JPKK to support village-level programmes,” he said.

Beyond boosting local income, the project has also created employment opportunities, with six youths from the village hired to assist at the farming site.

Residents have also benefited from access to fresh fish at below-market prices, with additional discounts offered to the local community.

Dzalin said the project’s success was further recognised when it won third place in the Projek Sejati MADANI category at the 2025 National Development Award.

In addition to farming, he also conducts advisory sessions and training courses on tank-based fish farming, attracting participants from as far as Singapore and Indonesia.

“This initiative is not just about income generation, but also about sharing knowledge and empowering others to venture into aquaculture,” he added.

-- BERNAMA