Improving Productivity of Tilapia Farmers in the Philippines
Tilapia is the most consumed farmed fish in the Philippines, with an average yearly consumption of 4.6 kg per person, yet the tilapia farming sector has declined by 35 percent in the last eight years, due to climate-induced challenges. Thus there is a considerable threat not only to the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk, but also to the country’s food security. This project sought to provide innovative knowledge and technical services and products to farmers in order to increase the resilience of the tilapia farming sector to climate or weather risks.
What did the project do
The project was able to enhance the capacities of national and local government counterparts/extension workers which enabled the undertaking of activities such as the collation of evidence-based scientific information from experienced tilapia farmers and commodity experts on climate-related risks and mitigation. This information was used to develop a series of technology bulletins which advise farmers when best to farm, plant or harvest, and fishermen, when to fish. The project also installed automatic weather stations (AWS) to monitor local conditions in real-time, providing farmers with simple statistical analyses and early-warning messages through ICT-based applications. The project explored the introduction of innovative crop insurance and other financial products to enhance resilience.Impact
The main impact of the project was to improve the productivity and profitability of tilapia farmers. Dwight and Camilo Belaya, fisher beneficiaries from Isabela Province, say that with the help of AWS and a water multi parameter test kit, they were able to manage their grow-out ponds properly and reduce “fish kill” during the last El Nino phenomenon. The project also enabled technical experts to gain knowledge. DrEmilia Quinitioof the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center commended involving the farmers in the production of the technical bulletins, making the series pioneering in the field of aquaculture. The methods used and templates developed are replicable to other aquaculture sectors and geographical zones.Project symbol: TCP/PHI/3502
Project title: Building Capacities for a Climate Resilient Tilapia Farming in the Philippines
Contact: FAO Office in the Philippines / FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific / Weimin Miao (Lead Technical Officer)
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/a-bt824e.pdf