Makassar (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is again preparing a village development program through the Thematic Aquaculture Program following the establishment of Village Cooperatives to strengthen the village economy.Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, after opening the Village Cooperative/Red and White Cooperative (KDKMP) Seminar in Makassar on Tuesday, stated that every village that has land will develop thematic fish farming.”Now, thematic fisheries villages will be established. We are already self-sufficient in rice for carbohydrates, and now we will move into fish protein,” he said.The Thematic Fisheries Village Program is a priority program for 2025-2029 with a target of 40,000 thematic inland fish farming (mini RAS) locations in 37 provinces.These farms will be managed by village/sub-district governments in collaboration with the community.During the implementation, interventions will include the construction of production ponds, recirculation systems, feed and equipment storage, as well as control tanks and reservoirs.This program is estimated to produce 1.2 million tons of fish per year, with a production value of IDR 2.88 trillion per year, and provide fish supply for 31.5 million Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) beneficiaries.The minister believes this program will absorb a lot of workers, about 8,000 workers, excluding temporary or construction workers.”If this program is successful, of course, it will create many jobs. Essentially, we want to build village economic empowerment while simultaneously employing as many workers as possible,” he said.