Sunday, July 03, 2005
More farmers go into tilapia growing
By Des Tilos
VALENCIA, Negros Oriental -- More and more farmers are drawn into upland fishing confident of a bright future as the Municipal Government expands its tilapia and freshwater prawn program.
In Barangay Malaunay, 25 farmers finished a four-day skills training on tilapia culture and hatchery done by workers from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Cebu City.
The number adds up to the growing list of residents in Valencia engaged in upland fishery.
From 30 last year, the number of tilapia growers has risen to 164, according to data from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Valencia.
The upland fishing area covers about 2.5 hectares.
The local government assured to continue giving technical help to farmers who want to venture into upland fishing, said Vice Mayor Doro Olasiman, during the graduation rite for the Malaunay batch.
The local government unit has built a municipal hatchery center following an increase in demand.
"The Provincial Agriculture Office, which used to supply us the fingerlings, can no longer meet our need, so we decided to build our own hatchery farm," said Rescelito Vincoy, municipal agriculturist.
With no problem in fingerling supply and the profitable market price of tilapia from P60 to P100 per kilo, more farmers will try their luck with the new technology that has not been proven before to succeed in the mountain, Olasiman said.
(July 3, 2005 issue)
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