Indonesia is a large country, with high population estimated at 236.331 million people in 2011. Fisheries sector in 2011 produced 13.6 million tons, consisting of 5.7 million tons from capture fisheries and 7.9 million tons from aquaculture (Fisheries and Aquaculture statistic book, 2013). Fish consumption reached 31 kg/cap/year in 2011, so aquaculture subsector has a good opportunity for domestic and export market. Indeed aquaculture is becoming a very important activity in order to generate job and income and provide nutritious food for the people.

Aquaculture production achieved 9.67 million tons in 2012 (Aquaculture Statistic Book, 2013), consisting of 10 major commodities which are seaweed, tilapia, milkfish, shrimp, catfish (African catfish), common carp, gouramy, pangasius, sea bass and others. This production was dominated by seaweed, followed by tilapia, milkfish, and catfish. Since 2010 aquaculture production topped the production from capture fisheries. Aquaculture in Indonesia is becoming a leading sector of fisheries production for providing aquatic protein food, generating income, creating jobs and improving livelihood.

Freshwater aquaculture production in Indonesia has significant contribution to the total aquaculture production. In 2012 freshwater aquaculture production was 2.15 million tons or 68% of the total aquaculture production of 3.16 million tons (excluding seaweed). This production came from pond culture, floating net, floating cage, and rice field culture. The fish production is dominated by pond culture (1.43 million tons), followed by floating net (455 thousand tons), floating cage culture (178 thousand tons) and rice field (81 818 tons). The major commodities cultured are common carp, tilpia, pangasius, giant gouramy, African catfish, java carp, and freshwater prawn. Criteria for business scale on aquaculture sector have been stipulated by the Ministry Decree no 05 series of 2009. Because of insufficient data, it is very difficult to calculate the accurate number of small-scale farmers. However, by using total areas calculation approach for the fish farmers ownership and neglecting the capital, the number of small-scale fish farmers can be estimated. In the Ministry Regulation, for micro and small scale ownership is defined as those farms with less than 1000 m² (pond culture), less than 30 unit (cage culture), less than 2 unit (floating net), and less than 2 ha (rice field). So freshwater aquaculture fish farmers in Indonesia are mostly grouped into micro and small-scale level (estimated > 90%).

Small-scale freshwater aquaculture extension is very important to assist the fish farmers in the region in order to produce more fish in good quality, get more income and improve their life. However, the number of extension officer is very limited with 4,800 government officers and 5,500 voluntary officers. Meanwhile, to support extension activities covering the 33 Provinces, a total of 15 500 officers are needed. There are three types of extension methods which have been developed: 1) Individual method, 2) Group method, and 3) Mass method. Among these three methods, the individual method and the group method are commonly implemented for smallscale aquaculture, while the mass method is mostly implemented for large-scale aquaculture.

Success story for small-scale freshwater aquaculture extension has been seen under the JICA Project in Jambi Province, Sumatra Island during the 2000-2007. JICA collaborated with Directorate General of Aquaculture, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in the form of Project Type Technical Cooperation (PTTC). The PTTC project located at Jambi Freshwater Aquaculture Development Center initially implemented from 2000 to 2005, was extended for two years up to 2007. The aim of the project was to develop freshwater aquaculture in Jambi Province and Sumatra Island. The outputs of the project were: 1) High quality broodstock (common carp, tilapia, and pangasius) was produced; 2) Quality of seed (common carp, tilapia, and pangasius) was improved; 3) Effective extension model area was established; and 4) Technology for indigenous species was developed.

Three extension model areas were developed, namely: Padang Jaya District, Bengkulu Province; Muara Bungo District, Jambi Province; and Kuantan Singing District, Riau Province. Pond and floating cage culture management and high quality broodstock were disseminated to the fish farmers in the three model areas. Training on freshwater aquaculture to improve their knowledge and skill was carried out for fish farmers in the Jambi Centre. During the project period, freshwater aquaculture developed very well and successfully. The eight new areas of freshwater aquaculture were then developed: 2 Districts (MuaroJmbi and Kota Jambi Districts) in Jambi Province; 2 Districts (Musi Rawas and Banyuasin) in South Sumatera; 2 Districts (Blume and Seginem) in Bengkulu Province; 1 District (Kampar) in Riau Province; and 1 District (Sawahlunto Sijunjung) in West Sumatera.

Minarti et al. (2006) reported that income of fish farmers from 5 Districts (Bungo, BatangHari, North Bengkulu, Kuantan Singingi, and Sawahlunto Sijunjung) increased significantly and the aquaculture activities contributed more to their main income, compared to the situation before the JICA project activities where the income of fish farmers was less than IDR 500,000 (80%) and less than IDR 1,000,000 (20%). Small-scale freshwater aquaculture extension development by means of proper concept, approach, methodology, and implementation based on uniqueness, characteristic of fish farmers and availability of resources could successfully increase their income, create job, and improve their livelihood of small scale fish farmer.