March 6, 2012

Philippine fish hatchery increases tilapia production in Leyte

The town of Kananga in the Philippines is becoming a key source of tilapia, with the establishment of a freshwater fish hatchery in Barangay Libongao.

To answer this problem, the Leyte Provincial Freshwater Fish Hatchery was established for PHP5.38 million (US$125,000) from three fund sources: German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) poured PHP4.2 million (US$99,000); provincial government, PHP1.06 million (US$25,000); and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), PHP74,000 (US$2,000).

OIC Provincial Agriculturist Rogelio Portula explained that the facility is actually an expansion of the mini-fish hatchery of Kananga Integrated Production Center (KIPC), which was established in 2007 to encourage farmers to diversify in aquaculture production. However, KIPC was unable to cope up with the required production of fingerlings, according to reports.

To solve this production problem, the province partnered with BFAR and GIZ's Enhancement of Food Security in the Visayas (Efos) to rehabilitate and expand the hatchery. During the pond's development, 137 low-income households from barangays. Libongao and Naghalin were hired as laborers to construct a dike, canal.

The1,388 square metres pond area that can accommodate 600 breeders. According to project team leader Andrea Beriquel, in the first five months of their operation, they provided tilapia fry to 1,255 backyard fishpond operators, enabling them to stock three times a year from only once and will sustain the operation of KIPC.

Efos Senior Advisor Alexander Tabbada informed that fingerlings are sold to fishpond operators for PHP0.60 (US$0.01) each with 500 pieces given free. Thus far, KIPC has produced approximately 400,000 fingerlings which were distributed to backyard fishpond operators in nearby municipalities.

Other hatcheries in Leyte are those in Malbog, Tolosa town of the provincial government which has concrete tanks of five-breeder capacity and BFAR's Regional Freshwater Aquaculture Production Center in Babatngon town. Portula said they aim to produce 3,015,000 tilapia fry annually from the three hatcheries for distribution to 10,000 backyard fishpond operators for free or 500 pieces per operator.