© Nyra Armada
In Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo, a recent harvest led by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre/Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) yielded two point nine tonnes of tilapia and 167 kilograms of giant freshwater prawn. The successful harvest on 30 September showcased the economic benefits of polyculture – growing complementary species in the same pond at the same time – to maximise space and efficiency.
The initiative achieved high average weights: the tilapia, primarily fed with tilapia feeds, averaged 500 grams, and the giant freshwater prawns, locally known as "ulang," averaged about 20 grams.
A viable pond partnership
The two species are an ideal match for polyculture because their feeding habits and pond behaviours naturally complement each other, reducing the need for costly external pond management.
Tilapia are surface and mid-water feeders, consuming algae and floating pellets. In contrast, the prawns are bottom dwellers that consume leftover feed and organic matter that settle on the pond floor.
This compatibility extends to their behaviours. As tilapia swim, they stir up sediments and improve oxygen circulation, which creates conditions favourable for prawn growth. Conversely, the prawns clean the pond bottom, minimise waste buildup and help maintain good water quality.
Since tilapia and the freshwater prawns occupy different pond zones and consume different kinds of food, they do not compete for resources. This ecological compatibility means both species can thrive simultaneously, a method that not only maximises pond use but also reduces risks associated with single-species farming.
“Through this collaboration, we’re turning our Department’s science-based aquaculture technologies into practical, field-tested, and adoptable solutions that can help farmers improve their production and income,” said SEAFDEC/AQD chief, Dan Baliao, in a press release.
Trial details
The experiment-demonstration was conducted at the freshwater ponds of the Provincial Agri-Aqua Research and Technology (ART) Centre and is part of the SEAFDEC/AQD’s “Grow-out Polyculture of Nile Tilapia and Giant Freshwater Prawn” project under the Joint Mission for Accelerated Nationwide Technology Transfer Program (JMANTTP).
On the same day, the monoculture trial of giant freshwater prawn in a 1,500-square-meter pond, stocked at 26 prawns per square meter, produced 604 kilograms after 4.5 months of culture using commercial vannamei feeds.
Both trials were funded under JMANTTP and jointly implemented by SEAFDEC/AQD, BFAR Region 6, and the Iloilo Provincial Government’s Office of the Provincial Agriculture, with SEAFDEC/AQD providing technical expertise and supervision throughout the grow-out period.
