Indonesia’s rural sectors, specifically the fishing and livestock industries, are entering a critical phase of reform aimed at raising the living standards of the country’s fishers and animal-farmers so they can enjoy welfare on a par with cultivation farmers. The nation’s coordinating minister for food and agriculture recently stated that the era is approaching in which the welfare of fishermen and livestock farmers welfare will match that of traditional farmers, reflecting a broader shift in national policy and strategy.

In this article, we explore what the fishermen and livestock farmers welfare ambition means in practice: the challenges it must overcome, the policy and industry measures being deployed, and the implications for Indonesia’s food system, rural economy and societal stability.

The Context: Why Fishermen and Livestock Farmers Welfare Matters

Across Indonesia, agriculture is often defined by crop cultivation and its associated value chains. However, the sectors of fisheries and livestock play an equally critical role — supporting livelihoods of millions in coastal and inland rural communities, contributing significantly to food security, nutrition and export earnings. Elevating fishermen and livestock farmers welfare is therefore not just an equity measure, it’s a strategic investment in inclusive growth.

Historically, many fishers and small livestock farmers have faced structural disadvantages: limited access to finance, coastal infrastructure deficits, poor value-chain linkages, volatile input and output prices, and exposure to climate and environmental risks. The policy statement that their welfare should soon be on par with that of crop farmers signals recognition that achieving broad rural prosperity demands integrated attention across all agri-sectors, not just the more visible ones.

Improving fishermen and livestock farmers welfare also aligns with Indonesia’s broader national goals: reducing poverty, strengthening food sovereignty, enhancing export potential, and creating sustainable rural livelihoods. When fishers and livestock farmers are better supported, the ripple effects include stronger local economies, more resilient food systems, and improved nutrition outcomes.

Current Challenges Facing Fishermen and Livestock Farmers Welfare

Even though the aspiration is clear, substantial hurdles remain in achieving sustainable improvements in fishermen and livestock farmers welfare.

Fragmented Value Chains and Insufficient Infrastructure

Many small-scale fishers and livestock producers operate with outdated equipment, limited cold-chain or storage facilities, weak market linkages and high post-harvest losses. Without reliable infrastructure—such as processing, transportation, feed supply, refrigeration, market access—raising welfare sustainably is difficult. These deficits compromise productivity, increase risk, and suppress incomes for fishers and livestock farmers.

Access to Capital, Technology and Extension Services

While crop farmers often benefit from government extension services and subsidised inputs, many fishers or small livestock farmers lack access to tailored finance, modern technology (such as aquaculture systems or improved breeding), and relevant extension/training. This uneven support undermines efforts to enhance fishermen and livestock farmers welfare because productivity gains remain limited and risk remains high.

Market Price Volatility and External Shocks

Fishers are particularly exposed to external shocks: climate events (storms, sea-level rise), fuel price swings, changes in export demand, and overfishing pressures. Livestock farmers may face disease outbreaks, feed cost spikes, or logistics disruptions. These risks mean that even if output rises, incomes may not translate into stable welfare improvements for fishers and livestock farmers.

Policy Fragmentation and Implementation Gaps

Although the recent policy rhetoric emphasises fishermen and livestock farmers welfare, translating this into on-the-ground actions requires coordination between multiple ministries (agriculture, fisheries, maritime affairs), regional governments, cooperatives, and private sector actors. Implementation gaps—such as slow disbursement of subsidies, weak enforcement of standards, or lack of monitoring—can hinder progress.

What the Government and Industry Are Doing to Improve Fishermen and Livestock Farmers Welfare

In response to these challenges, Indonesia is rolling out multiple initiatives designed to elevate fishermen and livestock farmers welfare in sustainable ways.

Dedicated Policy Emphasis and Equalisation

The recent announcement that fishers and livestock farmers will be treated “like farmers” signals a stronger policy emphasis on this group. That means budget allocation, inclusion in national programmes, and specific welfare targets. By bringing fishers and livestock producers into a more visible policy limelight, the government aims to foster parity in welfare outcomes.

Infrastructure Investment and Value-Chain Strengthening

To improve fishermen and livestock farmers welfare, the government plans to invest in infrastructure: cold storage for fisheries, feed mills and breed improvement centres for livestock, processing facilities and transport logistics. By reducing losses, improving product quality and enabling access to better markets, these investments aim to raise incomes and stabilise productivity.

Access to Finance, Technology and Extension for Underserved Sectors

Programmes geared toward fishers and livestock producers now include subsidised credit, micro-finance tailored to their operations, technology transfer (such as aquaculture systems, improved animal breeds, digital market platforms), and extension services. These supports intend to reduce the productivity gap and help fishers and livestock farmers innovate and scale.

Market Diversification and Value Addition

By encouraging value-added products—such as processed fish, aquaculture species, dairy and meat products, ready-to-consume packaged goods—the strategy seeks to move fishers and livestock farmers beyond raw commodity sales. This enhances margin, creates local jobs, and contributes meaningfully to their welfare. In doing so, fishermen and livestock farmers welfare becomes more resilient and less dependent on commodity price swings.

Measuring Progress: Indicators for Fishermen and Livestock Farmers Welfare

Improving fishermen and livestock farmers welfare requires tracking key metrics across production, income, resilience and inclusion.

• Income growth: Are fishers and livestock farmers earning sustainable and growing incomes?
• Productivity/throughput: Are yields (fish harvest per unit, livestock output) improving with access to technology and markets?
• Loss reduction: Are post-harvest losses being cut through infrastructure and improved chain management?
• Resilience: Are operations better insulated from shocks—climate, feed/fuel price, disease outbreaks?
• Inclusion: Are small-scale fishers and livestock farmers gaining access to finance, training, markets and cooperatives?
• Welfare outcomes: Are livelihoods improving in terms of asset ownership, access to social services, generational sustainability?

Monitoring these metrics helps ensure the goal of fishermen and livestock farmers welfare moves from aspiration to reality.

Implications and Outlook for Indonesia

If the ambition to raise fishermen and livestock farmers welfare is realised, the implications for Indonesia are wide and transformative.

Firstly, for food security and nutrition: a stronger fisheries and livestock sector means greater domestic supply of animal protein and diverse food products, which supports dietary quality and reduces reliance on imports.

Secondly, for rural economic development: improved livelihoods of fishers and livestock farmers can stimulate local economies, boost demand, create jobs in processing and logistics, and slow down rural-to-urban migration.

Thirdly, for national industrial strategy: by treating fisheries and livestock as priority sectors for value-chain development, Indonesia can capture more value locally—processing, packaging, branding—rather than simply exporting raw commodities. That supports higher value jobs and economic resilience.

Finally, politically and socially: elevating these communities supports social equity, strengthens the social contract between state and citizens, and helps build inclusive growth. When fishers and livestock farmers feel secure and prosperous, the rural fabric is more stable, and the narrative of “left-behind” regions can be addressed.

However, success is not guaranteed. Achieving fishermen and livestock farmers welfare will demand sustained investment, good governance, clear policy frameworks, private-sector engagement, and perseverance. The government’s policy pronouncement is a strong start, but the real test lies in implementation.

Conclusion

Indonesia’s new policy thrust towards uplifting fishermen and livestock farmers welfare is a significant and welcome development. By affirming that fishers and livestock producers will enjoy welfare similar to crop farmers, the government recognises the full spectrum of the country’s food and agriculture ecosystem.

To turn this ambition into reality, however, requires addressing infrastructure deficits, market linkages, productivity gaps, financing access, and value-chain integration. If done well, the rewards will be substantial: enhanced food security, stronger rural economies, more inclusive growth, and a greater role for Indonesian agriculture, fisheries and livestock in the global marketplace.

For stakeholders in agri-business, fisheries, livestock, policy-making and development finance, the coming years offer both opportunity and responsibility. Uplifting fishermen and livestock farmers welfare is not just about fairness—it is about national resilience and sustainable prosperity.