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Monday, March 17, 2003
DA boosts tilapia, bangus production
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is beefing up fish production in the country, especially tilapia and bangus (milkfish) because of its strong export potential, particularly in the United States.
DA Regional Director Roger Chio said the DA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recently succeeded in creating a new strain of fast- growing tilapia called Get Excel Tilapia, "that grows into a size enough to feed 3-4 persons within 3-4 months."
According to a Bfar survey done in 2001, annual fish production in municipal waters decreased by 19 percent for the period 1990-1999, from 1.13 million tons in 1990 to 0.92 million tons in 1999.
Commercial fishing, on the other hand, increased by 35 percent during the same period, from 0.7 million tons in 1990 to 0.95 million tons in 1999. For the same period, the total fish production for commercial and municipal waters increase by 2 percent. Of the said figure on fish production, more or less fifty percent is composed of bangus and tilapia.
This year, however, Chio said that Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo directed the heads of the Department of Agriculture in the regions to increase the existing fish production by 10 to 20 percent. Chio said this would ensure that the Philippines has ample fish supply that would allow the prospects of export.
The DA 11 chief said the country is serious in pushing for the opening of an international market for tilapia and bangus that they have already scouted for potential markets.
"We already have a sure market for tilapia in the United States. Mukhang fast food chain yata. They said if we could produce a single tilapia that would weigh about a kilo per piece then it would be good, bibilhin nila. Gagawin yatang fish fillet or yung iba pang fish dishes (A fast food chain is interested if we can produce a tilapia that weighs a kilo apiece. They're going to make it into fish fillet and other dishes)," Chio said.
Presently, tuna is the only Philippine fish product enjoying huge exposure in the international market. Japan and the United States are among the major importers of the Philippine tuna. CEU
(March 17, 2003 issue)
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