Taguig city: The feedmill facility established inside the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) complex is set to enhance the aquaculture sector in Western Visayas. The project, which began with an agreement between the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and SEAFDEC/AQD in 2003, was officially inaugurated on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, BFAR Western Visayas Regional Director Remia Aparri highlighted that the facility has a production capacity of at least five metric tons of feeds per day, which can reach up to eight metric tons. It is designed to support the development of cost-effective feeds for commercially significant fish species like bangus (milkfish).
The facility is expected to directly benefit at least 6,240 fisherfolk annually, accounting for approximately 47 percent of the 13,202 fisherfolk engaged in aquaculture within the region. This underscores the intervention's scale and significance in advancing aquaculture productivity in Western Visayas. Aparri added that the facility will not only serve as a feed production center but also as a hub for innovation, training, and technology transfer, catering to various stakeholders from backyard fish farmers to commercial producers, within and beyond Western Visayas.
SEAFDEC/AQD chief Dan Baliao stated that the feed mill plant exemplifies the agency's commitment to bridging the gap between research and development and practical application. He expressed hope that the facility would contribute towards food security and sustainable aquaculture growth.
DA-BFAR Assistant Director for Administrative Services Zaldy Perez noted that the project addresses one of aquaculture's most pressing constraints: the high and unstable cost of feeds. He emphasized that feed can account for 60 to 70 percent of production costs, affecting production, profitability, and ultimately, food security and fisherfolk livelihoods.
Perez added that the project aims to complement the current supply system and address gaps, particularly when feed prices are high and supply is constrained. He concluded by stating that this initiative aligns with the national mandate to achieve food security, increase productivity, and improve incomes in the fisheries sector.
