The Indonesian App That Can Grow More Fish

Summary

eFishery, founded by Gibran Huzaifah, is revolutionizing Indonesia's aquaculture industry with an automated fish feeder connected to the cloud. The device helps farmers reduce feed costs (which can comprise up to 90% of total expenses) and increase productivity by efficiently monitoring fish appetite. The company empowers small-scale farmers by offering affordable technology that improves farm performance, boosting their incomes by up to 200%. With successful pilots in Vietnam and India, eFishery is scaling globally, fostering community and technological innovation in the rapidly growing aquaculture sector.

Takeaways

• 😀 The aquaculture industry is a $100 billion global market, with Indonesia alone having a $10 billion fish trading market and a $5 billion feed market.
• 😀 Feed costs account for 70-90% of the total expenses in fish farming, creating significant inefficiencies in the industry.
• 😀 Gibran Huzaifah, CEO of eFishery, started the company after realizing the challenges in fish farming and the need for technology-driven solutions.
• 😀 eFishery developed an automated fish feeder, controlled by a smartphone, to optimize feeding efficiency and improve fish growth rates.
• 😀 The eFishery feeder is affordable, with a subscription cost of just $10 per month for farmers, improving productivity and reducing labor costs.
• 😀 eFishery uses data from the feeders to track feed consumption, fish health, and farming practices, providing valuable insights for farmers.
• 😀 Data gathered through eFishery’s technology helps farmers access financing by building credit scores and connects them with downstream buyers.
• 😀 The use of eFishery technology has led to significant income increases for farmers, with some seeing growth of up to 200% and expanding from two ponds to twenty within a year.
• 😀 Farmers’ initial resistance to adopting the technology was overcome by focusing on community-building and creating a sense of belonging to a larger mission.
• 😀 Gibran views success not in terms of wealth but in how eFishery can contribute to improving farmers' lives, supporting rural communities, and global food security.
• 😀 eFishery is expanding internationally, with pilot projects in Vietnam and India, aiming to prove that Indonesian innovation can play a major role in the global aquaculture market.

Q & A

What inspired Gibran Huzaifah to start eFishery?

Gibran was inspired by the inefficiencies in traditional fish farming methods, particularly the manual process of feeding fish, which was both labor-intensive and costly. His goal was to develop a solution that would automate fish feeding and improve farm productivity.

What are the key challenges faced by fish farmers in Indonesia?

The primary challenge faced by fish farmers in Indonesia is the high cost of feed, which accounts for 70% to 90% of the total farming costs. Additionally, the feeding process is manual, leading to inconsistencies and inefficiencies in feed quality and farm productivity.

How does the eFishery Feeder work?

The eFishery Feeder is a machine that automates the process of feeding fish. It is connected to the cloud and equipped with sensors that monitor the fish's appetite, allowing the machine to feed the fish with optimal accuracy and efficiency, improving feed conversion ratios and accelerating fish growth.

How much does the eFishery Feeder cost and what are its benefits to farmers?

The eFishery Feeder costs just $10 per month. Farmers using the feeder have seen significant improvements in productivity and income, with increases ranging from 40% to 200%. Some farmers have expanded their operations from a few ponds to as many as 20 within a year.

What role does data play in eFishery's solutions?

Data is integral to eFishery's approach. The system collects information on feed usage, feeding frequency, and fish numbers, allowing farmers to track performance. This data is also used to build credit scores, connect farmers with financial institutions for financing, and link them to downstream buyers.

What was the biggest challenge Gibran faced when introducing eFishery to farmers?

The biggest challenge was convincing farmers, who had been using traditional methods for decades, to adopt new technology. Many farmers did not initially understand the benefits of the eFishery Feeder, as labor was cheap and they were accustomed to their manual feeding practices.

What did Gibran learn about the farmers' needs that went beyond technology?

Gibran realized that while technology was important, farmers valued community and a sense of belonging more. Building a strong, supportive community around the product was crucial to gaining farmers' trust and encouraging them to adopt eFishery’s solution.

What is Gibran’s definition of success for eFishery?

Gibran defines success not in terms of financial wealth or company valuation, but by how eFishery contributes to improving farmers' lives, boosting rural economies, and enhancing food security. He sees eFishery’s impact on communities as the ultimate measure of success.

How is eFishery expanding beyond Indonesia?

eFishery has successfully conducted pilot projects in Vietnam and India, with the aim of proving that innovations developed in Indonesia can have a significant impact on the global aquaculture market. The company is working to expand its presence and influence in the global fish farming industry.

What is the future outlook for the aquaculture industry, according to Gibran?

Gibran is optimistic about the future of the aquaculture industry, which he views as the fastest-growing food sector in the world. With the introduction of innovative technologies like eFishery, the sector has tremendous potential for growth and sustainability, and the sky is the limit for what can be achieved.