Fisher folks in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Mag.undergo training on tilapia production
A training on Tilapia Production was conducted by Al-Ittihad Farmers and Fisherfolks Marketing Cooperative (AFFMC) with the support of the Bangsamoro Development agency (BDA) in partnership with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) on January 16-17, 2016 at EM Manor Hotel and Restaurant, Cotabato City.
Ustadz Usman Al-Hamid Omar, AFFMC Project Manager said in his opening remarks that the training is not only an opportunity for the members of the cooperative, but a privilege as well because it will help them learn the art of tilapia production and management.
Ustadz Omar also said that the training will be an indispensable tool to realize their common objective as members of the cooperative, that is, to learn the necessary techniques in managing tilapia, which will help said cooperative beneficiaries to gradually uplift their lives.
Zainodin Kusain,PhD, Dean, college of agriculture and fishery of Cotabato City State Polytechnic College (CCSPC) presented about Fishing Status and Trends in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Countryside which accordingly the region is known as the top producers of all kind of fishes in the Philippines.
Datuido Tulon, Agricultural Technologist/Fish-farm manager of Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ARMM Office, Cotabato City also presented Tilapia Growth-out Systems/Water Quality Monitoring and Management
Sulbah Tulah, BDA regional project operation officer under fishery sector for the Community Development in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao (CDCAAM) project also presented about pond design and lay outing/construction.
He also stated that fishes are like human beings, if not properly maintained, they will become weak and as a result, they will grow very slowly—if not die.
An open forum was also part of the training.
It was also reported that all the participants went to Lake Tuminggay, Brgy. Tapayan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao for a site visit in order for them to appreciate the learnings and knowledge and skills they gained from the training.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Yacob, BDA executive director said during the training that “we must be thankful that there is a training opportunity like this”.
“The persons who are trained well, equipped with adequate knowledge and skills can never be likened to others who are incapable, lack of knowledge and skills,” he said.
Yacob also further stated that this project is a mere pilot that will yield huge benefits to cooperative beneficiaries if it will be sustained and implemented well.
Kharim Amil, BDA-TIKA focal person hoped that all the participants can apply all the knowledge they acquired from the training.
To note, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) on November 12, 2015 at Bangsamoro Development Center in Cotabato City (BDCC).
Accordingly, the MoU aims to establish “Program Partnership” between TIKA and BDA wherein sustainable projects will be implemented in the Bangsamoro communities in Mindanao.
The MoU covers three livelihood projects: (a) goat raising by Homeland Producer Cooperatives (HPC) in Brgy. Kibucay, Upi, Maguindanao headed by Dr. Taugan Kikay; (b) tilapia farming by Al-Ittihad Farmers and Fisherfolks Marketing Cooperative (AFFMC) in Brgy. Pikeg, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao headed by Usman Al-Hamid Omar and; (c) chicken farming by Allied Technology and Development, Inc.(ATDI) headed by Macmodin Ali.
(Zandra Malikol, BDA CommGroup)