AN INITIATIVE of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) started making tilapia farming accessible to selected beneficiaries in the provinces of Laguna and Batangas.
A total of 14 farmer cooperators culturing tilapia in 17 fishponds with area of 2,798 square meters located in Laguna and Batangas benefited from the project dubbed “Tilapia para sa Pamayanan” of the DOST-PCAARRD.
Started in June 2020, the project benefited the following barangays in Laguna: Malinao, Taytay, and Munting Kawayan in the municipality of Majayjay; Pupuy in Bay; Mabacan in Calauan; and Malinta in Los Baños.
While in Batangas, the following barangays are covered by the project: Bucana, Cogonan, Mangahan Putat, Bautista, and Butucan in the municipality of Nasugbu.
According to Engineer Eduardo V. Manalili, director of the Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division (IARRD) of PCAARRD, beneficiaries were selected based on two criteria: the area of the farmer should have a sustainable source of water and a dug-up land that can serve as a fishpond, and the farmer should be willing to learn about tilapia culture and processing.
Prior to the actual conduct of tilapia farming, farmer cooperators were trained on: developing and maintaining a fishpond; fertilizing the fishpond using organic or inorganic fertilizers; and harvesting.
They were also provided information on what feeds should be given to the tilapia, postharvest technology, and record keeping.
Making tilapiang dinanggit, a tilapia processing method, was also taught to the farmer cooperators.
“Our overarching objective for this project is to provide our fellow Filipinos a source of livelihood that can sustain for many years,” said Manalili.
Since the fingerlings and feeds are given for free, James Jacobo, a farmer cooperator from Nasugbu, Batangas, said this initiative is a huge help for them and other farmers selected for the project.
Part of the project is maintaining three fishponds of Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU), measuring 180 square meters each. After three months of tilapia culture, the grown-up tilapia were recently harvested from two ponds, totalling 130 kilograms.
Seventy percent or 90 kilograms of the harvest were given to indigent LSPU employees and their families. Meanwhile, 30 percent or 40 kg of the harvest were donated to families isolated in the Los Baños Isolation Facilities.
DOST-PCAARRD spearheaded this project in collaboration with the LSPU, Batangas State University, local government units, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture.
Tilapia para sa Pamayanan project is just one of the many projects of the Council to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in poor communities of the country. It is part of the program, Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives towards National Goals or GALING-PCAARRD Kontra COVID-19.
Previously launched projects of GALING-PCAARRD include Gulayan sa Pamayanan, which provides materials for urban gardening in select areas in Metro Manila and Manok at Itlog sa Pamayanan, which promotes chicken farming for meat and egg as well as Itik Pinas duck egg production and processing as sources of livelihood./PN
