BAYBAY CITY- With its fervent effort to ensure that fishery commodities remain adequate in the country, most especially in the cities and municipalities of Eastern Visayas, BFAR 8 continues to implement initiatives geared towards improved fisheries production such as active support to small farmer-fisherfolk associations in tilapia farming in ponds.

Notable to mention is the Hilapnitan Farmers Association in Baybay City, Leyte which successfully harvested 344 kilograms of tilapia, amounting to P45, 000 from their first-two harvests this week. The said association and its nearby barangay’s association, the Higuluan Farmers Association, projects a total earning of P224, 000 this month at 20% mortality, as they harvest the tilapias from their eight (8) fishponds.

Withal, the said fish harvests were and will be sold immediately within the city to boost the local marketing scheme of the associations and guarantee fish sufficiency in Baybay.

Through the active support and cooperation of the Fifth District of Leyte, City Government of Baybay and the Provincial Fishery Office of Leyte, these farmer associations who are neophytes in tilapia farming are with high hopes that their hard work on their new-found business will continue to bear good and promising upshots. 

“Pasalamat gud mi sa BFAR, sa City Agriculture’s Office pamaagi sa Coastal Resource and Fisheries Management Office, City Government ug kay Congressman Carl Nicolas Cari, nga gi- tabangan ug-gisuportahan gud mi nira. Kunta mulambo pa ni na project para daghan pa matagan ug bulig”, ( We thank BFAR, the City Agriculture’s Office through the Coastal Resource and Fisheries Management Office,  the City Government and Congressman Carl Nicolas Cari for their help and support. We hope that this project will continue to prosper to help more people), remarked by Pedro Yu Acebedo, President of Hilapnitan Farmers Association.

It can be recalled that both of the associations have received technical assistance, 9,500 tilapia fingerlings and feeds assistance from the Bureau last December 2019 under the Technology Demonstration program which has fortunately became an opportune response to the fishery commodities sufficiency amidst the threat of COVID 19 pandemic.

BFAR 8 also plans to implement intensive tilapia culture in the said associations’ fishponds. The office also foresees Baybay City as a potential beneficiary of giant gourami culture and a model of urban fish farming in the province of Leyte.

Source:https://www.facebook.com/BFARregion8/posts/1475442409320882