The Department of Agriculture-Fisheries Biotechnology Center conducted its second two-day training program for local fish farmers in the province of Negros Occidental. The first day of the activity was held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall on February 28, 2024 and PFO Negros Occidental on February 29, 2024. The event aimed to bolster the capacities of participants in the cultivation of tilapia, catfish, and mudfish.
Attended by 30 participants including hatchery owners/technicians, local fish farmers, students and interested individuals, the training topics ranged from theoretical lectures to hands-on practical sessions. The initiative is part of the project titled “Promotion of Breeding and Farming Technologies of Commercially Important Freshwater Fishes for Increased Aquaculture Production Phase II,” was spearheaded by the DA-FBC and hosted by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). Funding support for the project was provided by the DA-Biotechnology Program Office (BPO) through the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). The project was in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisherieses and Aquatic Resources-Region VI, Provincial Fisheries Office-Negros Occidental, the Provincial Office of Agricultural Services-Guimaras, and the Office of the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur.
Dr. Casiano H. Choresca Jr., Scientist I and the Center Chief of DA-FBC, the project leader of the project, emphasized that the training aimed not only to share various culture technologies but also to promote the development and sustainability of freshwater farming among hatchery owners, technicians, and local fish farmers in Western Visayas in which this could help achieve food security. Present also during the training was Ms. Marian Jill Abeto the OIC of BFAR VI-PFO Negros Occidental who expressed her strong support in promotion of the commercially important freshwater fishes including catfish, mudfish, and tilapia in the Province of Negros Occidental. I addition, she showed her gratitude for being chosen as one of the collaborators of the projects in which their center benefited through the improvement of thier facilities.
Invited resource speakers during the Day 1 of the training were Ms. Jenny Ann Ercilla, Aquaculturist I and Mr. Amher Somblingo, Aquacultural Technician of DA-BFAR6 – RFRDC, Ms. Derelyn Villan, Aquaculturist I of DA-BFAR 6-PFO Negros Occidental and Ms. Faith Loraine Magbanua, Project Technical Specialist I of DA-NFRDI-FBC.
The first day of the training program commenced with an in-depth discussion of the basic history and biology of tilapia and its grow-out culture in ponds, followed by the lecture on the Catfish biology and its culture technology. Moreover, the program was completed through the lectures on Induced breeding of Catfish and Mudfish.
The second day was accomplished through practical demonstrations on induced spawning of catfish and mudfish and furthermore identification of the female and male tilapia breeders. This demonstration aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills for successful fish farming. Furthermore, the two-day event concluded through the awarding of free fingerlings and feeds to the trainees. Participants were full of eagerness and enthusiasm during the lectures and demonstrations. Moreover, expressed their gratitude for the helpful informations and inputs gained throughout the program.
This activity aimed to capacitate participants of the different technologies on Catfish, Mudfish and tilapia culture and inspire them to continue engaging in fish farming.