MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is stepping up its efforts to provide necessary inputs to fishermen to become major players in aquaculture. Among these is its recent partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Fisheries Inc. towards improved fish production, restoration of degraded coastal waters, mangrove reforestation, and R&D capability enhancement.
Additionally, with the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), BFAR has infused P49 million in post-harvest technology centers, sardine processing, mariculture zone projects, tilapia hatcheries and seedbank as well as production and dispensing milkfish fingerlings and prawn post-larvae.
BFAR is also eyeing to plant 100 million mangrove trees to provide aqua-silvi to many fisherfolk communities.
At AgriLink 2011 slated on Oct. 6 to 8 at the World Trade Center, BFAR will be conducting seminars on aquaculture utilizing eco-friendly yet sustainable systems to help the Filipino fisher folk.
Lois June B. Fermin and Marx Perfecto C. Garcia will highlight the integration of aquaponics with backyard raising of fish in drums--a new integrated system of growing fish and plants in a re-circulating system, which enables water from the fish tank to be fertilized and irrigated.
Ma. Theresa M. Mutia of the National Fisheries Biological Center in Brgy. Butong, Taal, Batangas, will be sharing success stories in ornamental fish farming. She will discuss how a monthly income of P2,000-5,000 could be attained with fish production of about 500 to 1,000 fishes per month, with operating cost that ranges only from P300 to P500 per month and an investment cost of P5,000-P10,000, utilizing only 25 sq.m. area.
Tristan C. Paylado MSES, chief of BFAR-Region V’s fisheries resource management section—San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur, will discuss the need to develop a reef rehabilitation technology that will answer the continuing degradation of existing coral reefs, and to conform to the Bicol setting of frequent bad weather; and how coral transplantation will be developed further.
Rene A. Legaspi, will highlight the potentials of Cabid-an, Sorsogon City’s seaweed processing plant.
Other seminars are Soil Rehabilitation through Organic Fertilizers by the Philippine Commercial Organik Fertilizers Association’s Nena Roy Mawalic of Green Asia Agri Ventures Inc. Its Green Fix Organic Fertilizer, for instance, maintains the natural ecological balance of the soil environment. The integration of organic fertilizers and microbial inoculants can help protect the soil and plant from pest and diseases, provide better soil aeration and water holding capacity as well as give optimum crop production.
email frld.agrilink@gmail.com. Visitors can also pre-register their attendance through its official Facebook page at facebook.com/agrilinkPH.