Empowering Small-Scale Aquaculture: Venambak at the AgResults Roadshow 2025 in North Sumatra

On 11–12 November 2025, Venambak joined WWF Indonesia and fellow participants in the AgResults Indonesia Aquaculture Challenge Project Roadshow held in Medan, North Sumatra. This two-day program brought together stakeholders across the aquaculture value chain government, innovators, and farmers with one shared mission:

Accelerating the adoption of efficient, adaptive, and sustainable aquaculture technologies for small-scale farmers.

Day 1 : Listening to Farmers, Understanding the Real Challenges

The roadshow began with a field visit to salinity-adapted tilapia ponds in Kampung Pauh, Hamparan Perak Sub-District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra. Rather than starting with presentations or product showcases, Venambak chose to start where it matters most: in the ponds, with the farmers.

During discussions, farmers reaffirmed several recurring constraints:

• Rising feed prices
• Unpredictable harvest outcomes
• Limited access to electricity for aeration
• Water quality that fluctuates with weather and season

These conversations highlight the daily decisions farmers must make often with limited resources and high uncertainty. For Venambak, this visit was a reminder that technology must be grounded in reality, not assumptions.

The insights reinforced our commitment to developing smart aeration, automated feeding, and energy-efficient systems that respond directly to these practical constraints.

Day 2 : Seminar & Technical Insights at the Marine and Fisheries Office

The second day continued at the North Sumatra Marine and Fisheries Office (Dinas Kelautan & Perikanan Sumatera Utara), where two leading experts delivered in-depth knowledge on water quality management, productivity, and technology.

Keynote Insights from Mr. Coco Kokarkin

Mr. Coco highlighted the importance of technological intervention to reduce human error and maintain ecological balance in tilapia ponds.

He emphasized:

• Toxicity risks from NH₃, NO₂, and H₂S
• The need for regular water exchange
• The role of Bacillus and Lactobacillus probiotics in stabilizing pH and breaking down organic matter
• Continuous monitoring using pH and ORP meters

His message was clear: technology enables standard operating procedures (SOPs) that can be repeated and improved consistently.

Keynote Insights from Mr. Supito (BBPBAP Jepara)

Mr. Supito focused on dissolved oxygen (DO) as the foundation of fish health and overall pond productivity.

He discussed:

• The importance of balancing the C/N ratio
• Probiotic fermentation to accelerate organic decomposition
• The necessity of precise, routine water quality management

Together, the two experts provided a holistic view of how modern pond technology bridges ecology, efficiency, and productivity especially for small-scale farmers managing salinity-adapted tilapia culture.

Technical Visit to Percut Village : Supporting Farmers’ Transition

After the seminar, the Venambak team continued to Percut Village, meeting with the village head of Tanjung Rejo, farmer groups (Pokdakan Mandiri & Maju Jaya Bersama), and fisheries extension officers.

Here, discussions became even more grounded and farmer-focused.

Local farmers shared real issues they encounter daily:

• Low stocking density
• Unstable water quality
• Farming systems that rely heavily on natural conditions

WWF emphasized how aeration technology enables farmers to safely increase stocking density, reduce risks, and transition into more measurable semi-intensive and intensive production systems. Venambak demonstrated how smart aeration and automated feeding can serve as the technological foundation for that shift—helping farmers farm more confidently, not fearfully.

Venambak’s Role: From Field Insights to Practical Innovation

Throughout the roadshow, Venambak introduced its Climate Smart Aquaculture system, a suite of connected technologies designed specifically for small-scale farmers:

• VENJET (Amore Venjet A37) : Venturi-based smart aeration that increases dissolved oxygen efficiently while reducing ammonia buildup at the pond bottom.
• FEEDERVE : A 60–90 kg automatic feeder with “small but frequent” feeding capability to maintain water quality and ensure uniform fish growth.
• BOXVE : A smart control unit that integrates all aeration and feeding devices:
• online control via Android app (manual/auto duration, real-time feed & energy monitoring)
• offline mode + manual timer for ponds without internet access
• solar-ready energy management

These technologies were designed with one goal: making pond management more stable, more efficient, and more sustainable—regardless of farm size.

Building the Future of Indonesian Aquaculture

The roadshow in North Sumatra affirmed the importance of collaboration—between technology developers, experts, government institutions, and farmers themselves.

By listening closely and innovating responsibly, Venambak is working to create aquaculture systems that are productive, resilient, and aligned with environmental sustainability.