Since its inception in 2021, the AgResults Indonesia Aquaculture Challenge Project continues to drive innovation in the aquaculture sector, particularly in improving access to technology for small-scale fish and shrimp farmers. Now in its fourth year of implementation, the project is not only a platform for competition but also a space for learning and collaboration for private sector players.

AgResults Indonesia Aquaculture Challenge Project held another prize-giving ceremony on June 2-3 in Jakarta. This event celebrated the achievements of the competitors in Year 4 and marked the start of the final year of the project.

The competition uses a Pay-for-Results approach, where the private sector is incentivized when it successfully distributes aerator and auto-feeder technology to small-scale fish and shrimp farmers. In Year 3, a technical assistance (TA) category was also added to the competition.

During Year 4, which ran from June 2024 to March 2025, there were 9 competitors in the technology category and 6 competitors in the technical assistance category. Of these, a total of 6 technology competitors and 1 technical assistance competitor won prizes.

There was a total of 9 competitors in the technology category and 6 competitors in the technical assistance category.
The winners sold 2,486 technology units, leased 895 technology units, and provided 199 technical assistance packages to small-scale farmers. The total prizes received reached USD 393,719 or around Rp6.3 billion. Participants who have been verified and validated and successfully sold or leased at least 25 units of technology, or sold at least 25 units of technical assistance package services, are eligible to receive prizes.

"The impact of this project is very real in the daily lives of farmers in various regions," said Parasto Hamidi of the AgResults Secretariat. "WWF-Indonesia also plays an active role by creating road show programs and training to help small-scale farmers face the challenges they experience. We see more and more new collaborations forming in the aquaculture sector."

The project focuses on addressing long-standing challenges in Indonesian aquaculture, such as high feed costs, poor water quality, and suboptimal shrimp and fish quality. These problems often make traditional farms less efficient and hurt the environment. By encouraging the use of technologies in ponds such as feeders and aerators, and providing technical support, the project aims to strengthen the value chain and increase the income of small-scale farmers. In Year 4, the technology competitor reached a total of 735 small-scale farmers.

"This prize is not just a form of appreciation, but also a motivation for us to continue to innovate and provide the best for shrimp and fish farmers in Indonesia," said Syahril Rizkiyah, Project Leader of CV Asia Cahaya Teknik Prima, the grand winner of the Year 4 technology competition. "Hopefully, in Year 5, the last year of this program, we can continue to spread positive spirit and encourage small-scale farmers to be more successful in farming.

Meanwhile, the technical assistance category aims to help small-scale farmers implement best farming practices, such as how to monitor water quality or detect diseases. Participants in this category have assisted a total of 190 small-scale farmers.

"Previously, we had difficulty providing technical assistance to more farmers," said Ardian, Director of Aceh Aquaculture Cooperation (AAC), the grand winner of the Year 4 technical assistance competition. Through the AgResults competition, we are now able to reach out to more farmers and provide them with the necessary assistance to improve their farming practices and yields. I am sure they are already feeling the benefits."

In the final year of the project, it became clear that the AgResults approach has opened up many new opportunities for small-scale farmers. By engaging the private sector, small-scale farmers are now better connected, have access to technology, and receive relevant training.

"We are excited to welcome Year 5 with the high spirit of Year 4," said Nur Ahyani, Project Manager Team Leader. "This year, new fish commodities have also been introduced. This shows the growing interest of farmers, not just limited to shrimp. To date, the total prize pool has reached more than USD 865,000 or around Rp13.9 billion. We hope to continue to expand our impact and support the growth of small-scale farmers in Indonesia."