Milkfish (bangus) production

Over the years, there has been a big steady demand for milkfish or bangus in the country. It has been also doing well in the international market with Philippine export of frozen or chilled bangus.

The following gives a good overview of how to manage your  own fishponds using a site already developed.

 Site Selection

Select existing brackish water fish farms that are fully developed and operational. Former prawn farms can be used for milkfish farming.

The site should have:

- high tidal range and can hold water at least one meter deep

- good water quality and more or less have constant salinity and temperature throughout the year.

- longer dry season, sandy clay loam, silty clay loam

- access to roads and power supply.

 Pond layout and design

1. Improve or modify existing structures to suit the management requirements of the proposed production scheme.
2. Concentrate on the repair and strengthening of dikes, cut-and fill leveling of pond bottom, and construction of diagonal canal, drain canal and drain culvert gate to improve pond structures.
3. Modify pond structures to improve water management and stock manipulation systems as well as to meet desired management schedules and production targets. The pond canbe of any size ( the bigger, the better) for optimum production using the modular method.
4. Divide pond into four compartments: nursery pond, transition pond, formation pond, and rearing pond.
5. Provide a separate culvert-type drain gate and canal system opposite the inlet gate and canal system for rearing ponds to effect efficient water exchange and circulation.
6. Construct an inside-pond diagonal canal to facilitate draining and harvesting of stock

For other agricultural topic visit www.pinoyagribusiness.com
Source: Semi-intensive culture of Milkfish, DA brochure

Pangasius contract growing

Vitarich is a company well-known for their poultry contract growing and aqua feeds. Years back (70-80’s) vitarich poultry feed is very popular that even hog growers used to feed it to their animal. Currently Vitarich is into the hog feeds, aqua feeds, specialty feeds (panabong), poultry and livestock. And they are now venturing in Pangasius contract growing.

Here is an excerpt of an article taken from Manila bulletin online by Melody M. Aguiba tackling the details of the said program.

Vitarich has set up three schemes with pangasius farming entrepreneurs — contracts for growing, contract to buy, and contract for commercial growing. (more…)

The word tilapia was first associated with mouth-breeding cichlids. The most common Tilapia is the Tilapia mossambica this mouth breeding species originated in Africa. The female usually carries the eggs, which is said to be fertilized within her mouth.

It was first introduced as an exotic aquarium fishes until it was introduced in the tropic as a food fish.  This fish  takes in any food and very productive.

 In the Philippines tilapia is the second most sought after fish, the first being the milkfish or bangus. In 1972 it was introduced in our country and since then it’s popularity is raising.

  (more…)