by Rollin Dave M. Elloren

MUNAI, Lanao del Norte – The Dalama Munai Alliance Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (DAMAFFA) recently harvested a total of 960 kilograms (kg) of tilapia under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase II of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 10, in this town. 

Funded under the programโ€™s Food Production and Livelihood (FPL) component, the Tilapia Culture in Pond (TCiP) project was provided to DAMAFFA in October 2023. They initially harvested 1,444 kg of tilapia in August 2023, followed by their expanded pond harvest of 960 kg on December 5 this year.

The association received a total of 10,000 fingerlings, with the first batch of 5,000 stocked in August 2023 and an additional 5,000 stocked in July 2024. In addition to the fingerlings, the association was also provided with 294 sacks of commercial fish feed to support their aquaculture operations.

After five months of dedicated effort, the association harvested the last batch of their cultured fish from the first cropping, with each fish averaging a body weight of 277 grams. The yield is estimated to generate an income of Php 143,040, based on a market price range of Php 140 to Php 160 per kilogram.

In an interview, DAMAFFA President Naira S. Camad expressed her heartfelt gratitude to BFAR for the SAAD program, which has significantly helped them improve their livelihoods.

โ€œKami nagpasalamat [sa] BFAR10 ug sa SAAD Program sa ilang program nga ilahang gihatag sa amua nga nakahatag ug tabang sa amuang panginabuhian. Kami nanghinaot nga magpadayun ug mapalambo pa namo ang project nga gihatag nila sa amua,โ€ Camad conveyed.

[We are grateful to BFAR-10 and the SAAD Program for the initiatives they have provided us, which have greatly helped improve our livelihood. We hope to sustain and further develop the project entrusted to us.]

Further, the association is scheduled to harvest its second cropping of tilapia, stocked in September this year and is estimated to be harvested in the first quarter of year 2025.