MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, October 8, 2021 – The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) distributed Php 402,080 worth of postharvest inputs to 16 farmers and fisherfolk’s associations (FFAs) in the BFAR Provincial Fisheries Office in Mountain Province through the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

The Fisheries Postharvest and Marketing Livelihood distribution completes the program’s Php 10 million worth of assistance for farmer and fisherfolk beneficiaries in FY 2021.

The 16 FFAs are residents of Besao, Sadanga, Sabangan, Sagada, Paracelis, Tadian, Barlig, Bauko, Bontoc. listing a total of 685 members.

Each set of the livelihood projects consist of an upright freezer, two insulated cooler ice boxes, a digital weighing scale, and 10 plastic crates which amount to Php 25,130. The inputs will support the fishers’ post-production and marketing activities for tilapia production in ponds and rice-tilapia culture.

Table 1. Fisheries Postharvest and Marketing Livelihood Project Beneficiaries

In its third year of implementation in Mountain Province, BFAR-SAAD projects are already 100% implemented.

The Program covers 10 municipalities in the province, extending service to a total of 1,112 fisherfolk and 16 organizations engaged in aquaculture and post-production projects.

While SAAD’s projects are fully implemented, beneficiaries can still access tilapia and hito fingerlings as well as other technical support from the bureau.

The interventions are aimed at assisting local fishers in marketing fish and other fishery aquatic products to increase income.

As of this year, BFAR-SAAD already established two village-level fish hatcheries as community-based enterprises in Mountain Province.

BFAR-CAR Regional Director Lilibeth L. Signey, Provincial Fisheries Officer Martha B. Estima, and SAAD Focal Person Michelle A. Peralta led the distribution of projects at the Mountain Province Provincial Fisheries Office in cooperation with the Mountain Province LGUs. ###

 

Writer:

Rodelyn Q. Fornda, CDO I

 

Sources:

BFAR-SAAD CAR

Ms. Michelle Peralta, BFAR-SAAD Focal Person