True to his promise to really help the farmers uplift their living condition by providing them income augmentation sources, Governor Bersamin had disposed thousands of fingerlings to the many fish-farmers in the province.
The tilapia fingerlings were grown in various fishpens and fish cages in barangays along the Sinalang River and the Abra River particularly in barangays Namanrabar and Malamsit in Penarrubia, Malita in Bangued, Balais in Lagangilang, and the different barangays of Bucay and Tayum.
The tilapia fingerlings are home-grown as these are raised in the two hatcheries in the province - Kirmay Fishery in Brgy. San Marcial, San Isidro; and at Brgy. Malamsit, Penarrubia.
The Kirmay fishery is the old fishfarm in the province where fingerlings are produced and operated by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG). The Malamsit hatchery, on the other hand, is private-owned but supervised by the OPAG.
The hatcheries are being improved and expanded for more productivity to be able to cater to the needs of more fish farmers in the province. The Governor has also started the repair and rehabilitation of the very old and dilapidated administrative staff building in the Kirmay fishery.
Meanwhile, the fish farmers have expressed gratefulness to the provincial government for the support they got in their fish farm activities. The fingerlings were given free and they are now harvesting and selling at an average of P100 to P120 per kilo in the market.
The experience of the fish farmers who took advantage of the fingerlings dispersals have inspired their fellow farmers, who have also now expressed a desire to go into fish farming to increase income.
Tilapia Dispersal Project A Huge Success
PHILIPPINES - Farmers along the different tributaries of the Abra River are now harvesting tilapia as a result of the tilapia fingerlings dispersal project of Governor Eustaquio P. Bersamin.
