85 iKalinga fisherfolk benefit from BFAR’s techno-demo project; 6,000 fingerlings, 52 bags of feeds provided

Tabuk City, Kalinga -The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - Kalinga started distributing technology demonstration project packages to fish farmers in the province earlier this August.

The techno-demo is a new project of BFAR that aims to boost the country’s economic growth while helping fish farmers earn more income.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, BFAR- Kalinga Provincial Fishery Officer Joyce Ducyogen said they started implementing the project the first week of August, benefiting a total of 85 fish farmers from Tanudan, Lubuagan, Rizal, Pinukpuk and Tabuk City.

The project already covered 20,000 square meters of aqua-culture areas as of said date. The recipients have been provided with 6,000 fingerlings and 52 and a half bags of fish feeds in total.

Other fish farmers in other municipalities shall likewise benefit from the project in the coming days.

Before the distribution of the package, the beneficiaries were evaluated and assessed to ensure that they have the initial requirement to claim it, which is a 1,000 square meters of pond or the Rice-fish Culture System (RFC) - alternate production of fish in a rice field.

However, Ducyogen explained that most of the ‘fish raisers in Kalinga have only 500 - 800 square meters of aquaculture areas or units, thus they lowered the requirement and considered those with at least 500 square meters.

“Nag-limit kami ti recipient iti areas ta we cannot deny the fact nga ada ti areas nga 500, 800. Nagtraining naman sila, when we called them to train on aquaculture maraming dumating” she stated.

With the project, BFAR - Kalinga expects that the beneficiaries will earn more income and help boost the province’s fish industry.