I would like to suggest developing a fish farming village to strengthen business exchange between refugees and host communities in refugee areas. Business in aquaculture sector is profitable since it provides commodities in the food sector especially as protein sources. The commodity can be a freshwater commercial species such as carp, catfish, tilapia or other local species. Considering the easeness of water treatment, the cultivation of catfish is more recommended.
The business can be divided into several units: the fish seeds (baby fishes) business unit, fish farming unit, feed selling unit, pond and accessories selling unit, marketing organization unit, and processed fishery products unit such as fish chips (snacks), fish nuggets, smoked fish, etc. The harvested fish can also encourage the opportunity to open business of eatery or street food kiosk. Each business unit can be run by either individual household or farmer community in the fish farming area.
Fish cultivation particularly catfish has been applied in several developing countries. In Indonesia, the catfish farming practices are mostly carried out in small or medium scales. The business practitioners are varied in social status so that people who have no basic knowledge about fish farming can learn and practice it. The business can reduce both of the unemployment rate and poverty as well as improve nutritional status for the community since fish contains high protein.
I have 5 years working experience as researcher in aquaculture sectors particulary in probiotic development for shrimp farming, water quality monitoring and microalgae cultivation. My last project was establishing a pilot project of spirulina farming for fishermen and local communities in a coastal area to increase their socio-economic status.