ASIPULO, IFUGAO – A one-million-peso village-level tilapia hatchery is set to be established in Barangay Cawayan, Asipulo, Ifugao to improve local fish production and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to fisherfolk beneficiaries. The project was approved by the BFAR Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Phase 2 National Program Management Support Office (NPMSO) in recognition of the Cawayan Fisherfolk Association’s (CFA) outstanding performance and proactive participation as a group beneficiary of the Program.

 

“We are optimistic that the hatchery to be established here in our barangay will significantly benefit our fisherfolk by providing them with a stable supply of fingerlings and an additional source of income,” said Merlyn Abella, a CFA member.

 

The hatchery will serve as an additional intervention to the association’s existing pond-based fingerling production. The CFA has breeders sourced from the BFAR National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (NFFTC), which were recently paired and set up for production. The hatchery will provide rearing ponds/tanks for fry-to-fingerling growth and holding tanks before dispersal, ensuring immediate functionality upon completion. This initiative will enable CFA members to supply quality tilapia fingerlings within their community, reducing dependency on external sources and improving income generation.

 

Since joining the SAAD Program, the CFA has implemented an income-sharing scheme where 50% of individual tilapia gross sales from the 46 beneficiaries allocated to the group. This ensures continuous income and capital build-up, which will be reinvested into community-based enterprises such as the hatchery, guaranteeing its sustainability beyond initial funding.

 

After the site validation and LGU discussions, the Program and the association will draft the hatchery’s structural plans, detailing its components. The project will proceed to infrastructure development and construction once the plans are finalized. The procurement of necessary equipment, supplies, and materials is scheduled to begin in March, with project completion expected by June 2025 or earlier.

 

To ensure proper hatchery management, CFA members shall undergo training as part of the livelihood package. Additionally, there are plans to expand the hatchery