Vitarich chairman and president Rogelio Sarmiento said the company develops its own aqua feeds and keeps itself up-to-date with the latest technological advances in aqua feeds production from abroad.
"We have an R&D program that encourages innovation in the development of aqua feeds. We make sure that each incremental innovation we develop and discover goes into the feeds that we produce," said Sarmiento.
Vitarich aims to pass on the benefits of R&D to the local fish farmers through its various high-quality feeds developed specifically for different kinds of fish. Fish farmers can then maximize the use of their feeds and achieve a higher level of cost efficiency.
"We plan to reach out to more fish farmers to educate them about the latest developments in the aquaculture industry, particularly about feed formulations that can help them improve their yields. In turn, we also learn about their needs and concerns so we can continuously improve our products," Sarmiento said.
Vitarich has an R&D facility in Marilao, Bulacan, where new feed formulations are developed and tested. The all-natural aquafeeds developed in the facility are antibiotics-free, ensuring optimal growth of fish that are safe and healthy for human consumption.
Sarmiento explained that R&D is very important in aqua feeds production and that continuous innovation is necessary to improve harvests and meet the growing demands here and abroad.
"Meeting the demands for exports can only be met if we produce the desired quantities and the high quality required by foreign buyers. Of course, price also matters. With the right technologies and R&D into feeds production, our fish farmers can achieve the desired level of cost-efficiency to make them globally competitive," explained Sarmiento.
"High-quality feeds can help fish farmers achieve better yields. The DA recently reported that the fisheries sector achieved the highest growth in agriculture. Our fish farmers need all the tools they can get in order to contribute even more to this growth," he said.
In 2006, the fisheries sector achieved a high 6.31-percent growth with a gross value of P163.4 billion, accounting for nearly a fourth of the total agricultural output at 24.92 percent.
"The aquaculture industry weathered several strong typhoons last year. Since it represents a very important component of agricultural output, it is vital that we support our fish farmers," said Sarmiento.
At present, Vitarich has feeds distribution all over the country. It has also participated in festivals to showcase its aqua feed formulations and assist fish farmers with their business concerns.