During the two-day training, the six trainors from the RFTC briefed the fish farmers on the global, national and regional scenario of organic aquaculture farming as well as the salient features of the Philippine National Standard on Organic Aquaculture.
Other lectures include Biology and History of Tilapia, Organic Culture of Tilapia, Duckweed Culture, Vermiculture/Vermicompost, Organic feeds for Tilapia, Aquatic Animal Health and Environmental Management of Organic Farming, Climate Change and its Impact to Fisheries and Values Enhancement for Sustainable Fisheries Development.
The trainors were led by Emerson Tattao, regional focal person on organic aquaculture; Emma L. Ballad, training specialist; Manilyn M. Aquillena, technical staff, Zaldy C. Villacillo, technical staff, Zaide Remocal, BFAR San Mateo and Melba Francisco, fish health officer.
Florence Mangoba, fisheries provincial focal person, also delivered the lecture on Values Enhancement for Sustainable Fisheries Development.
According to Mangoba the move is in support to the Republic Act 10068 or the "Organic Agriculture Act of 2010" wherein the State shall promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the that will increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of farmers, consumers, and the general public, and save on imported farm inputs.
Mangoba said they invited at least 40 fish farmers and they intend to conduct more trainings to be able to motivate adaptors or cooperators of the program.
She added those who are interested to become cooperators may submit their names, addresses and contact numbers to her for the assessment.
Qualified cooperators will be given technical assistance and organically grown tilapia fingerlings to start their organic tilapia production.
