DA tests market for ‘tilanggit’

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture is looking into the economic potential of tilanggit, a tilapia that is processed danggit-style.

Danggit or dried rabbitfish, is a popular processed fish product because of its distinct taste and aroma when fried.

Tilapia raisers in Region 10 now want to be able to produce tilanggit on a commercial scale as this may be more profitable because it has more meat.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has started to explore ways of commercializing tilanggit production and developing the market for the product.

Vianney Gapuz, head of the Community-based Participatory Action Research of BFAR in Region 10, said several cooperatives in the region have been identified to participate in  the proposed project  that would test the commercial production of tilanggit in the region.

Female tilapia, which are smaller, are preferred in making tilanggit.

“As male tilapia grows faster and bigger than female tilapia, after segregation at 50-80 grams, the remaining female tilapia are processed into tilanggit, since only the male tilapia are cultured up to the desired harvest size of 250 – 450 grams,” said Gapuz.

Tilanggit production is expected to became a good source of alternative livelihood in the region.

However, it is seen to be a seasonal acti-vity as tilanggit production depends on the supply of quality tilapia.

Tilanggit is sold for P50 per 100 grams and is bought on a per order basis.

BFAR has started promoting tilanggit by featuring the commodity in the 9th National Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition organized by DA-BFAR.

“We need to develop tilanggit into a commercial product wherein it will be a regular demand in the grocery market,” Gapuz said.