The Tangaro Young Farmers’ Association (TYFA) in Catarman town, Camiguin, has taken a meaningful step toward strengthening and diversifying its livelihood through the establishment of fish ponds for tilapia production.
Launched in January 2026, the fishpond project was funded using income generated from the association’s Ready-To-Lay Chicken Production Project under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture.
The TYFA members pooled their resources to finance the construction of two fish ponds dedicated to tilapia raising. The funds were carefully allocated to purchase the necessary fish and construction materials.
The association stocked one pond with 53 large tilapia for breeding. These mature fish are crucial for maintaining a sustainable supply of offspring. The second pond, on the other hand, is stocked with over 1,000 small tilapia, which are the offspring of the breeders and are expected to reach market size by July 2026.
TYFA is among the farmers’ associations supported under the SAAD Program Phase 2 in Camiguin. The group is a recipient of the Program’s Table Egg and Vegetable Production Project, which has been instrumental in their initial success and serves as the foundation for their new aquaculture venture.
As of March this year, the association has maintained a strong financial standing, with a recorded cash-on-bank of Php 217,000 and a cash-on-hand amounting to Php 70,390, reflecting prudent financial management and reinvestment of project earnings.
The Tilapia Project is TYFA’s strategic move to diversify income sources and enhance food security for the community. The association estimates that the small tilapia will be ready for sale by mid-2026, providing a promising opportunity for income generation. ###
