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Indonesia steps up aquaculture recovery in flood-hit Aceh

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, inspected flood-hit areas in Aceh to accelerate the recovery of aquaculture and farmland and protect food supplies.Hasan visited affected sites in the Meurah Dua sub-district on Thursday alongside Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono and Trade Minister Budi Santoso, according to an official statement on Friday.”Food sector recovery is a priority, including restoring damaged rice fields through irrigation repairs and clearing mud deposits,” Hasan said.Government data shows that more than 30,000 hectares of shrimp and milkfish ponds were damaged by flooding, with varying levels of destruction.Authorities are prioritizing the rehabilitation of aquaculture ponds by repairing basic infrastructure to resume fish farming, while rice fields will be restored through irrigation improvements and sediment removal.The government will also provide living allowances for affected residents and accelerate the construction of temporary housing for displaced families, Hasan added.He also inspected market rehabilitation efforts and disaster relief posts in Pidie Jaya as part of broader economic recovery measures.The Trade Ministry has delivered Rp450 billion (US$26.75 million) in aid through its relief program to support basic needs and maintain goods distribution.The government stated that post-flood recovery in Aceh is being managed through integrated cross-sector efforts to safeguard national food security and speed up regional economic recovery.