BUKIDNON, April 18, 2022 – The Pinamangguan Tilapia Growers Association (PTGA) received Php 491,000 worth of postharvest equipment and facilities under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program implemented by the Region 10 Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aimed at minimizing postharvest losses and reduce feeds expense through alternative production.

On March 15, 2022, PTGA, with 35 tilapia growers who are also corn and rice farmers, accepted sheds for feed formulation and fish processing with complete equipment such as a grinder, pelletizer, chest freezer, and solar dryer. The said facilities will increase efficiency in postharvest and cut feeds expenses.

“Salamat kaayo sa tanang among nadawat karon nga mga proyekto gikan sa BFAR ubos aning SAAD Program, dako kaayo ning tabang sa amo, (Under the SAAD Program, I want to thank BFAR for all the projects that you provided us, this will help us a lot,)” said Mr. Benjamin Lacandula, the group president.

Mr. Lacandula assured the implementers that the group would treasure these vital tools for their sleek production and operation. Nonetheless, the association president also underscored to take full responsibility for the provisions and guaranteed that the group and its products will thrive in the coming years.

Moreover, Bukidnon’s Provincial Fishery Officer (PFO), Ms. Mary Joy A. Tac-an, shared that the bureau already poured Php 1.5 million worth of equipment, facilities, inputs, and various fishery training since 2019 for 35 hardworking fishers.

“Kaning gigasto sa gobyerno gihatag kaninyo base kini sa evaluation kung unsa gyud ang dapat ihatag sa association nga para sa food security” (These investments from the government are based on an evaluation that was conducted for us to know what to provide to the association for food security), said Ms. Tac-an.

Ms. Tac-an also lauded the active participation of the local government unit (LGU) and the Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO), specifically during the selection of beneficiaries and appropriate livelihood projects to be provided.

“Kining LGU, MA og MAO ang ga-endorso nga mao kini ang angayang proyekto, og mao kini ang angayan na asosasyon – kung hukpong ba ang association, kung mutrabaho ba or bukal ba sa loob nga dawaton sa maong association ang proyekto kalakip sa responsibilidad sa pag atiman niini,” Ms. Tac-an added.

(The LGU, MA, and MAO endorsed the type of project and the association fit to make the project successful – if the association is active, if they will exert efforts and if the association will accept the projects knowing that they are also responsible for taking care of it.)

To this writing, the group has a total pond area of 1.4-hectare (each member with 400 square meters) and already recorded an income of Php 618,600 from selling fresh tilapia valued at Php 100 per kilogram (kg); and Php 259,000 from tilanggit sold at Php 1,000/kg. ###

Writer: Christine Lyn Viajante