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Friday, May 20, 2005
Oledan: Losing end
By Radzini Oledan
Slice of Life
"We have had enough of people advancing their own personal agenda by undermining the efforts of others in the industry. There is no justification in sacrificing the interest of the small catfish growers and compromising their livelihood."
IT IS the small catfish growers who are at the losing end over the allegation that water source contamination was the culprit behind the "massive fish kill" at the pond of the Domingos at Los Amigos last month.
If there was one thing that the controversy was able to accomplish, it was to bring down a viable and thriving catfish industry in the city.
Investigation showed that it was the adverse conditions namely; presence of nitrate, reduced growth and feed efficiency at an elevated temperature of 31.5 degrees C, stressed condition of the transported juveniles from the GenSan farm and based on the declared pond population of 30T pieces of catfish in Pond 9 translated into a density of 71.72 pieces per square meter which is way beyond the desirable level which resulted in the massive fish kill.
The reported massive fish kill was solely confined to the pond of the Domingos despite the fact that neighboring catfish growers use the same water source. But all has been said and done. The damage to the industry was great. It has resulted to the slowdown of the industry.
In the May 19 consultation dialogue at the Los Amigos Barangay Hall, the small catfish growers lamented the decline in their operations as a result of the controversy.
Small catfish grower Richard Alejaga pointed out that only 200 kilos were purchased out of the recent 400 kilos hito harvested from their pond. At the height of the controversy, the public started to shy away from the hito restaurants in the area for fear that the catfish are indeed contaminated.
Former barangay captain Jun Santander aptly described the decline of the hito industry as the negative effect of an "irresponsible statement, lacking in solid basis and research" which was released to the media.
It was clear that the massive fish kill was an isolated case. To use it as an excuse to answer for whatever obligation speaks of bad taste, not to mention that it is grossly unfair to the small catfish growers who have to contend with the low market price, lack of technical support and even problems on financing.
An investigation was conducted to ascertain the circumstances of the fish kill, validate the facts and generate information on the real condition of the industry was completed. That should put things in order.
If anything, it should challenge concerned agencies of government to gather their acts together and come up with a comprehensive plan and support program for the local catfish industry.
We have had enough of people advancing their own personal agenda by undermining the efforts of others in the industry. There is no justification in sacrificing the interest of the small catfish growers and compromising their livelihood.
Too bad how an irresponsible claim from one catfish grower, backd by the irresponsible media hype by the Davao City District spokesperson and an NGO which did not check its facts subverted the collective dreams and aspirations of the small catfish growers who are bent to do good on their business and fully develop the hito industry as an economically viable sector.
The small catfish growers are resilient and committed enough not to allow anyone to undermine their efforts but they still need the support of the community to continue. They can not afford to lose hope.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 20, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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