Technical Assistance II
On 4 May 2023, a team of export quality infrastructure experts from ARISE+ Indonesia embarked on a field visit to undertake a pre-assessment study of the Mollusca Bivalve production ecosystem in Tanjung Balai, Asahan, North Sumatra. This pre-assessment mission aimed to build effective communication channels with local representatives and government offices, evaluate production farms for density and size, understand the challenges and needs, define the scope of a capacity-building program, and ascertain the conditions' suitability for delivering training and assistance.
This capacity-building program serves as a support initiative for the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to strengthen businesses and exporters in fulfilling food safety, quality, and sustainability requirements for international exports, particularly for shellfish exports.
Nestled on the Asahan River's estuary in the Asahan District, North Sumatera, Tanjung Balai is roughly a 5-6 hour drive from the capital city of Medan. Known as "Clam City" or "Kota Kerang" in Indonesian, it serves as a significant shellfish production hub for both domestic and international markets.
In Tanjung Balai, the ARISE+ Indonesia team, Arief Safari and Alain Peyré, met with Ardinan, the Head of Tanjung Balai Fish Quarantine and Quality Control Station, and a shellfish exporter. Ardinan revealed that while the overall shellfish export from Tanjung Balai has declined, exports of baby clams (kerang batik) have seen an upswing since 2022, primarily destined for Malaysia. Despite receiving inquiries from the USA and other countries, producers and exporters struggle to meet the rising demand.
Ardinan further disclosed that his station has been providing support to the exporters through periodic monitoring visits to the shellfish collection area. These visits, which entail a 4-5 hour boat ride, aim to gather samples for testing the presence of living organisms and heavy metals.
The team also conferred with a local exporter, Yulius Han, who corroborated Ardinan's statement that despite the increasing demand, the farmers and exporters have been struggling to meet the demand due to several obstacles, including reduced catch and processing challenges.
Interestingly, Malaysian buyers have praised Tanjung Balai Asahan's clams for their unique flavour, attributed to the muddy sea environment, and their freedom from biotoxin exposure and heavy metals due to the absence of nearby fisherman villages and mines. Furthermore, Baby Clams, or "Kerang Batik" in Indonesian, from Tanjung Balai and North Sumatra's East Coast have started gaining popularity in Malaysia and Thailand. They're valued for their distinct flavour and greenish hue, setting them apart from the more brownish baby clams from Malaysia, Thailand, or China.
The insights gathered from this pre-assessment will inform the capacity-building program, guiding the necessary corrective actions for quality improvement and export enhancement. An in-depth study will be conducted to gather vital market intelligence data and export requirements to expand the market.
