Boost Fish Production! ‘Use Local Raw Materials, Bring Down Feed Cost’

A locally-formulated Aqua Feeds using available materials will be available initially for Southern Philippines aquaculture stakeholders by the first quarter of 2022 to address the sudden increase in the cost of feeds.

During the first virtual meeting yesterday on the proposed establishment of a Mariculture Park in the Bangsamoro town of Parang, Maguindanao, Filipino-American farmer-scientist Rocky French said of the 25 raw materials needed to formulate good quality Aqua Feeds, 24 could be sourced in the Philippines.

Yesterday’s virtual meeting, participated in by a representative of the group of U.S. Navy retirees who wanted to invest in Aquaculture Projects, was arranged by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and presided by Asst. Secretary Romeo Montenegro.

South East Asia Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) chief Dan Baliao along with fisheries experts from the center also participated in the virtual conference.

“The key to the success of any Aquaculture Project is the cost of feeds and by using locally available raw materials, this could be greatly reduced,” French, who acts as the technical consultant of the U.S.-based Fil-Am investors group.

French said the challenge is to find a substitute for the imported Soybean Meal which is the most expensive component in any feed formulation.

He said local raw materials high in protein content could be used to supplement the absence of Soybean Meal.

He had used Moringa or Malunggay in the formulation of Tilapia feeds in Coachella Valley, Southern California.

French is arriving in the Philippines by the second week of January 2022 and a newly-completed feed mill facility in Kidapawan City owned by the Cotabato Livestock Producers Association (COLIPA) would be used in the production of the Aqua Feeds.

Also, during yesterday’s virtual meeting, MinDA identified the cove fronting the town of Parang as a potential area for the Aquaculture Project involving the retired Fil-Am U.S, Navy officers.

MinDA is expected to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform of the BARMM, the Polloc Port Development Authority and the local government of Parang for the presentation of the investments proposal.

SEAFDEC chief Baliao said the Center could provide the needed Bangus fry and other high value species to support the first-ever Mariculture Park in the Bangsamoro Region.

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