The implementation of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program has recorded an exceptional accomplishment, despite the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Mountain Province, the Provincial Fishery Office already distributed 618 units of aquaculture projects and rendered technical assistance to 43 beneficiaries, which corresponds to 78 percent accomplishment of the SAAD program implementation in the province this year.
The targeted aquaculture projects for 2020 in the province included 850 units technology demonstration projects composed of pond culture, rice fish culture, loach culture, and fish cage culture and 40 units fishing gears and four units non-motorized banca.
A total of 990 fisherfolk from all the municipalities benefitted from the aquaculture projects as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources made sure that the implementation of various projects remains unhampered amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
The increase in the number qualified and interested beneficiaries is the result of the impacts of previous implementations in 2019 showcasing that fish farming is a good alternative source of income to farmers and since more are being enticed with the venture.
Bastian Doligas, a fisherfolk from Sagada provided with 1,000 tilapia fingerlings in December last year, harvested 164.5 kilos of tilapia on July 28, which he sold at P150 per kilo, or a total harvest value of P24,675.
With the result of the harvest, some of the project beneficiaries opted to expand their areas up to the maximum of 200 square meters from the minimum area of 80 to 120 square meters.
To date, there are already 4,650 registered fisherfolk in Mountain Province who are interested to avail of the same project inputs.
Beneficiaries of each town were provided with fingerlings like hito and tilapia.
In July, Mountain Province received 245,000 pieces of fingerlings composed of 175,000 pieces tilapia and 70,000 pieces hito fingerlings.
The inputs were hauled from the Provincial Fishery Office in Bontoc, but prior to the distribution, beneficiaries were oriented and their areas were validated. – Press release
May 1, 2024
