Development Project in Catanduanes, Philippines
By Danny O. Calleja
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) targets about 3,000 fisher folks and farmers as beneficiaries of the inland fishery development projects it supports for the island province of Catanduanes.
The projects include the culture of organic tilapia, juvenile crabs and some fresh water species endemic in the area. They hope to enhance the local fish production as well as to develop sustainable sources of livelihood through the infusion of technologies in inland fisheries.
These initiatives, according to BFAR regional director for Bicol Dennis del Socorro here over the weekend, were part of the food security and poverty alleviation program of the agency that the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III is pushing through the Department of Agriculture (DA).
There are several projects that have been identified in the province under this intention and among them is the Small Holder and Small Framer Integrated Rice-Fish-chicken-Gabi Farming System involving around 50 farmers and fisherfolks in the municipalities of Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Virac and Vega.
Other projects include the development of genetically-improved tilapia and some endemic species in selected rivers and streams of Catanduanes, which is for the culture of fast-growing tilapia species and native freshwater fishes as well as the sustainable small scale organic tilapia and growing of juvenile crabs with low-cost feeds in nylon nets.