Pond preparation and food requirements

1. Carry out thorough pond preparation such as crack drying, liming and tilling once a year.
2. Prepare the ponds grown with lab-lab before fish stocking.
3. Apply organic and inorganic fertilizer to stimulate growth of natural food organisms.
4. Extend pond preparation and food growing in grow-out ponds to 45 days to allow more time for the abundant growth of lab-lab.

 Schedule pond preparation and food growing

ACTIVITIES	CUMULATIVE DAYS FOR COMPLETION OF ACTIVITIES
1 Pond draining, soil sealing, leveling and repair.	1
2. Pond drying.	2-7
3. Gate screening	2
4. Pest and predator control	2
5. liming (optional for low pH)	2
6. Washing	7
7. Organic fertilization (2 tons/ha)	8
8. First water intake, 5 cm	8
9. Evaporation	8-17
10. Inorganic fertilization 3 sacks/ha 21-0-0	11
11. second water intake, 10 cm	18
12. fertilizer dressing, 25 kg/ha 16-20-0	18
13. third water intake 14 cm	25
14. Fertilizer dressing, 25kg/ha,  46-0-0	25
15. Fourth water intake, 20 cm	32
16. fertilizer dressing  25kg/ha 16-20-0
17. fifth water intake, 25 cm	39
18. Fertilizer dressing 25kg/ha, 16-20-0	39
19. sixth water intake, 30 cm	45
20  fish stocking	46

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

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