Fisherfolks from Matungao, Lanao Del Norte, a pilot community of Community Development in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD-CAAM) Project implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) learned new skills and techniques on fish culture, processing and marketing upon exposure visits to fishery sites on May 5-8, 2014 at Davao del Norte, South Cotabato and Maguindanao.

In Davao del Norte, they visited Panabo Mariculture Park Agri-Pinoy Trading Center. The center has 305 floating cages, which the fisher-folks owned 40 cages; 254 cages for 46 investors, and 11 cages for BFAR Demo project. Each cage employs 12 harvesters/workers.

It is a joint project of the DA-BFAR XI, Davao City and LGU Panabo City, in cooperation with the City Government of Tagum.

The good practice observed is the strong support and collaboration among the LGU, line agencies, private sector and fisher-folks that helps in the success of the Center.

In South Cotabato, the team visited the Tilapia pond-based hatchery, the Municipal Tourism Office, fish landing, Tilapia fish cages, live Tilapia sellers & restaurants.

The team was impressed by the selling of live-Tilapia placed in an open wooden frame covered with plastic. This can be easily replicated by the beneficiaries.

Lake Sebu is one of the successful fishing industries in Mindanao. The Lake is one of the tourist spots in the Region and the different tilapia cuisines are among the reasons that interest visitors and travelers.

In Maguindanao, the team was impressed by the beauty and richness of Lake Buluan where most of the families in the community get living from by working in the Lake. Fresh tilapias are available in the Lake harvested every 7-8 months. One of the advantages in the Lake is that it provides natural food for the tilapias thus the fisher folks have lesser cost for feeds. LGU support is also helpful in managing the resources offered by the Lake.

In Kabacan, North Cotabato, the team visited the Mindanao Freshwater Fisheries Training Center (MFFTC), with ten-hectare facility for fishery research; production; and training for freshwater aqua-culture.

Accordingly, functions of the MFFTC includes producing quality Tilapia fingerlings to cater to the needs of fisher-folks in Mindanao, provide technical services/assistance to fisher-folks, students, institutions and private sector engage in freshwater fish culture; conduct trainings, seminars, and create linkages with other line agencies of the government, LGUs and fishermen. Also, conduct fingerling dispersal and other fishery-related activities.

The team learned significant skills and knowledge from exposures in the different fishery industries. They were more encouraged and convinced that there is better life in fishing especially with applied technologies.

CD-CAAM is a project being implemented by BDA in partnership with Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) and ICNet Limited. The project is piloted in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao and in Matungao, Lanao del Norte.