TWENTY technicians have undergone a three-day Training of Trainers on Tilapia Grow-out Culture and Hatchery Operations and Management conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
BFAR Regional Director Al-zath Kunting said in a statement Tuesday, September 12, that the 20 technicians, who undergone training last week are from both coastal and landlocked towns within the province of Zamboanga del Sur.
Kunting said the participants were equipped with advanced technical knowledge and expertise in tilapia cultivation, a significant step toward enhancing aquaculture productivity in the region.
"Tilapia has long been recognized as one of the top five most vital and promising aquaculture commodities in the Philippines," Kunting said.
"To fully harness its potential, the training covered topics related to tilapia culture, including freshwater and brackish water pond-based systems, aquaponics, and hatchery management," he added.
He said the training provided a hands-on experience by immersing the participants in actual tilapia fry collection, packing, transport, and sex identification of tilapia breeders during a field visit conducted at Bagalupa Freshwater Fish Hatchery (BFFH).
As part of the training program, participants had also embarked on an excursion to the City Agriculture Demo Farm in Danlugan village, Pagadian City.
"They explored a fully operational hydroponics facility managed by the Municipal Agriculture Office of Pagadian City, which serves as a beacon of innovative farming technologies," said Kunting.
The completion of the training is expected to mold local tilapia farming experts capable of addressing the technical requirements of local fisherfolk within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Through the knowledge transfer, Kunting said that participants are poised to play a vital role in advancing aquaculture practices and ultimately contributing to the region's sustainable aquaculture growth, particularly in the cultivation of tilapia.
The training initiative aligns with the broader goal of the DA-BFAR to achieve a 10 percent increase in the country's fisheries sector.
With empowered and skilled individuals now in the field, the future of aquaculture in Zamboanga del Sur looks brighter, Kunting said. (SunStar Zamboanga)