July 27, 2024
Philippines opens new aqua feed mill in Aurora province to boost local fisheries
The Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 3 has inaugurated a new PHP 22 million (US$376,000) aqua feed mill in Barangay Calabuanan, Aurora province, Philippines, Daily Tribune reported.
BFAR National Director Isidro Velayo Jr described the aqua feed mill as a major advancement for the local fisheries and aquaculture industry. He highlighted the facility's production capacity of 1.60 metric tonnes per day during an eight-hour operation and its role in providing a steady supply of high-quality aqua feeds.
This development is expected to benefit local aquaculture operations and enhance the efficiency of the value chain.
Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz explained that this is the first government-run aqua feed mill in the country. The project, funded by the Department of Agriculture-BFAR and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), included PHP 17 million (US$290,000) for infrastructure and PHP 5 million (US$85,500) for initial operating expenses. The provincial government provided the land for the facility.
In his welcome speech, Municipal Administrator Vincent Paladio underscored the significance of the feed mill for the local community and its potential to improve the livelihoods of local fisherfolk.
Reynante Tolentino, Jr, representing the Governor of Aurora, noted the provincial government's support for initiatives aimed at enhancing food security and economic growth in the region.
The new feed mill is part of a broader strategy to improve the fisheries value chain in Aurora. Recent livelihood interventions complementing this effort include the provision of a 62-foot handline fishing boat, the installation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bangus cages, and the establishment of a community-based larval rearing facility.
- Daily Tribune
