Free 22,375 Tilapia fingerlings given to Tinglayan fisher folks

Tinglayan, Kalinga – Forty-eight fish pond owners in Tinglayan were the recent beneficiaries of the Special Area for Agricultural Development program of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as they start to venture in tilapia farming after the agency handed then 22, 375 fingerlings along with feeds last week.

Beneficiaries include the 10 fisher folks from Belong Man-ubal, 8 from Buscalan, 4 from Butbut Proper, 11 from Sumadel I and II, 3 from Ambato,6 from Basao , 1 from Tulgao, 2 each from Bangad Centro and Luplupa and 1 from Poblacion.

Each recipient received fingerlings and feeds according to the actual geo-tagged area of a fish pond, of which 200 square meters is the maximum per unit.

“The number of fingerlings given depended on the area of the beneficiaries’ constructed fish pond, while feeds provided include fry mash, pre-starter, starter, grower, and finisher,” Larae Lactao, Municipal Information Officer of Tinglayan said.

Owners with 200 sq. m were given 2 bags of fry mash, 1 bag pre-starter feeds, 2 bags starter, 4 bags grower, 2 bags finisher and 1000 fingerlings.

As recalled, the beneficiaries were oriented on August 19 with their fishponds validated to check if the fisherfolk have followed what was instructed to them during their orientation.

Preparation of pond area

In order to start a Tilapia culture in ponds, fisher folks were instructed to select a proper pond layout, do pond preparation, and learn its management, including record keeping.

Each beneficiary then prepared pond areas ranging from 50 to 200 square meters (sqm), which has a stocking density of five (5) pieces of tilapia fingerlings per sqm.

On harvest season, which usually happens 4 months after stocking of the fingerlings, BFAR will be granting harvesting nets and crates to the beneficiaries with a commitment that they shall do their “record keeping” task.

With the inputs given to recipients, BFAR Kalinga expressed hope that their harvests would not just be for their own consumption, but would provide them additional income while urging them to sell what they will be harvesting afterwards.

SAAD’s goal, they reiterated, is to help marginalized farmers and fishers move out of poverty by increasing food production and establish community enterprise through providing appropriate technology, marketing, and other services.

OTHER NEWS

Lubuagan vegetable producers get 50 Cavans of free fertilizer

Follow Guru Press Cordillera on Facebook for more News and Information