ILOILO CITY (PIA) — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is constructing a P26.7 million aquaculture feed mill in the town of Tigbauan in Iloilo.
The project is funded under the National Fisheries Program (NFP).
The BFAR, as the proponent of this project, has sourced funds from its budget allocation, combining the funding support from the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Aquaculture Department (AQD).
The project site. (Photo courtesy of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department)
As a research center, the SEAFDEC has been partnering with the BFAR in preparing feasibility studies, identifying suitable sites, designing the government’s legislated hatcheries, and other research and development regarding the industry for years, hence contributed a counterpart fund of P250,000.00 for this medium-scale aquaculture feed mill.
SEAFDEC chief Dan Baliao highlighted the potential of the facility to provide high-quality feeds at a stable price using raw materials sourced from local farmers.
“The establishment of an aquaculture feed mill plant in Visayas will help boost
the production of farmers using formulated cost-effective and nutritionally balanced feeds,” Baliao noted.
As the facility is projected to have a daily production capacity of five metric tons, this could contribute to the enhancement of fisheries productivity in Western Visayas.
“This would eventually help in increasing and sustaining the aquaculture production of finfishes in ponds and cages in the area,” he added.
BFAR 6 regional director Remia A. Aparri declared this aquaculture feed mill as among the approved projects that are set to take off this year.
BFAR 6 regional director Remia A. Aparri during one of her engagements with the townsfolk. (Photo courtesy of BFAR Region 6)
“Development of aquaculture feed mill plants is one of BFAR’s approved projects and is set for implementation this 2023,” noted Aparri.
She also cited that this project in the region belongs to the five proposed, which will be implemented as pilot projects this year, alongside Regions 4A and 4B.
It has to be noted that early this year, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the BFAR and SEAFDEC was signed by both parties for the establishment of the feed mill in the Visayas. (AAL/AGP/PIA 6 with reports from SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department)
