Vitarich introduces new aquaculture feed

Pioneer feeds firm Vitarich, joined the recent and first-ever Bangus Congress in Iloilo where it showcased its latest aquaculture feed formulation aimed at bringing the industry into the export market.

Vitarich chairman and president Rogelio Sarmiento said shared expertise in new, advance technology and high quality standards in the aquaculture industry will elevate market competitiveness and fast track expansion to foreign markets.

The Philippines is currently exporting milkfish to the European Union, Japan and the US. Aquaculture aggressive Asian neighbors that produce milkfish for the export market include Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar.

Sarmiento said continued growth of the local milkfish industry and seasonal oversupplies necessitate the development and expansion to new markets abroad.

Milkfish production in the Philippines is showing an upside trend producing 236,000 metric tons in 2004 with a total value of P15 billion and direct employment of 30,000. On the average, the per capita consumption of bangus is 2.8 kilograms or seven percent of total fish intake.

Sarmiento noted that it was uncommon ten years ago for fish farmers to use feeds for their fish venture. With the advent of new technology which Vitarich is aggressively pushing, fish farmers are now using feeds to increase production of other high-value fish that include apahap (sea bass), lapu-lapu (grouper) and tiger fish, among others.

The Bangus Congress brought together different stakeholders in the milkfish industry to interact with each other on new product development, aquaculture technology with the end-view of complying with requirements of local and foreign markets for quality standards, food safety and marketability of quality bangus products abroad.