BUKIDNON, August 6, 2020 – In an effort to reduce post-harvest losses and to boost profit from tilapia farming industry, the Region 10’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through its Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program turned over post-harvest equipment and feed facility to PICKISM (Pinilayan, Cebole, Kiburiao, Sta. Cruz, Mibantang) Tilapia Growers Association on August 6, 2020, at Purok 9 Kiburiao, Quezon.
BFAR – Provincial Fishery Officer Mr. Marlou N. Fernandez led the turnover of the equipment and facility to the association represented by Chairman Nelson B. Lacubtan. “This way, we can reduce the cost of operations in farming tilapia, as more than 80% of the cost is dedicated to the purchase of feeds,” said Mr. Fernandez.
Through the SAAD Program, the group was granted with various sets of interventions, such as processing shed and other equipment worth Php 168,415.00; feed formulation shed (Php 81,755.00); pelletizer (Php 37,500.00); and (Php 35,000.00), which aim to reduce costs of production as well as increase capacity to produce value-added products.
Ms. Perlita G. Danlag, Municipal Agriculture Officer of Quezon, Bukidnon, said that the LGU is grateful to BFAR-SAAD 10 for the unending support to the upland fish farmers of their municipality. “Our sincerest thanks to BFAR-10 for the support. This is a huge project for our fisherfolk,” Ms. Danlag said.
The interventions are also part of the self-sustaining and full-cycle operation envisioned by the BFAR-10: from the hatchery project for the production of fingerlings, tilapia production, feed formulation, and processing, up to post-harvest processing, such as making tilanggit and other value-added products.
The bureau also sees a lot of potential for the group as they are considered to be one of the best performers in the region in terms of financial management and entrepreneurial skill.
“Based on the recently conducted monitoring of our SAAD projects, it showed that PICKISM has one of the best results with visible success. Through the projects provided to them, they were able to start up other businesses, such as poultry and livestock raising,” said Mr. Ibrahim R. Sanggoyod, SAAD Project Regional Focal Person.
The PICKISM Tilapia Growers Association formally registered their group to the Department of Labor and Employment on November 19, 2019. To improve their operations, they initiated a contribution of Php 1,000.00 per production cycle to all members to shoulder their operational costs. Out of 30 members, 10 were under the Tilapia Culture in Pond Project, and 20 were under the Aquaculture Community-Based Participatory Action Research or Aqua-CPAR. ###
Writer: Crisanti B. Salde, BFAR-SAAD 10 Information Unit Staff
