LANAO DEL NORTE, October 13, 2021 – Hukbong Mananagat in Riverside Association (HMRA) with 29 members in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte earned Php 547,947 after selling 4,590 kilograms (kg) of bangus from the FY 2021 Milkfish in Fish Cage Project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

The association received 10,000 pieces of bangus fingerlings good for their one-unit fish cage (10m x 10m), 400 bags of feeds, and training on milkfish culture in a cage in April 2021. The fingerlings were stocked on May 28 and the members expected a 95% survival rate.

From the group’s total revenue, 60% is allocated for the subsequent cropping season (March to August 2022), 20% for the members, 10% for additional capital of their sari-sari store, and 10% for reserve funds.

HMRA membership in SAMMP Cooperative

In 2020, HMRA became a group member of the Simbuco Aqua-Marine Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SAMMPC) whose exceptional performance in SAAD project implementation appeared in the SAADventures magazine Volume 3 Issue 3 published on August 26, 2021.

SAMMPC chairman Teodolo Bueno Jr. pointed out that their cooperative is open to interested fisherfolk and groups who wish to join them. Including HMRA, they now have 236 SAAD members.

Also, one of the goals of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for its SAAD beneficiaries in the province is to encourage all fisherfolk in Kolambugan to become a member of the cooperative.

BFAR acknowledged the role of a cooperative in the fishery industry, which is to provide better lives to the families, unity among fisherfolk, as well as protected, managed, and conserved aquatic resources.

In addition, the bureau looks forward to establishing an enterprise on the production of fresh and processed fishery products, fishing gear and paraphernalia, and other agricultural and indigenous products – to be managed, governed, and patronized by the Kolambugan fisherfolk.

Aside from the production inputs, the group is also set to receive a village-type community-based processing shed with complete equipment and processing utensils in December.

The shed and the materials will help in the production of bottled and deboned bangus.

The farmers will also receive training on financial management and other skill development to fully capacitate them. ###

Writers:
Jennifer Valcobero, SAAD NPMO Public Relation and Comms Officer
Al Jun Barbon Magamano, LDN Focal Person

Source of Photos:
BFAR-SAAD Lanao Del Norte