Friday , 29 March 2024

Farmers’ Forum 2014

By Development Communication Section

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(Left to right) Mr. SB Alayon, Dr. RV Pakingking, Ms. MR Rovilla, Dr. EGDJ Ayson, Dr. MR Catacutan and Dr. RM Coloso during their lectures

SEAFDEC/AQD hosted the Farmers’ Forum 2014 at the Training and Information Division conference room. The forum was well attended by representatives from local government, government agencies, the academe and the private sector. Immediately after the Book Launching were lecture sessions in the morning and in the afternoon. The first lecture was delivered by Mr. Stephen Alayon on Distribution and Use of SEAFDEC Publications: Initiatives of SEAFDEC/AQD Library. Mr. Alayon elaborated on SAIR or SEAFDEC/AQD Institutional Repository where digital copies of AQD researchers’ in-house and external publications are available for free and online. Mr. Alayon’s lecture was followed by a talk by Dr. Rolando Pakingking, Jr. on Major Diseases and Health Management of Cultured Tilapia ‘Oreochromis niloticus’ in the Philippines. Dr. Pakingking argued that intensification of tilapia culture has brought about emerging diseases such as Streptoccocal infection and viral nervous necrosis caused by betanodavirus. Opportunistic bacteria particularly Aeromonas spp are also encountered as well some parasites (Trichodina spp.; monogeneans; the fish louse, Argulus spp., and the anchor worm, Lernaea sp.) which can cause serious mortalities. Dr. Pakingking recommended that therapeutic exclusion and stock selection, maintaining good water quality and hygiene as well as the use of immunostimulants, probiotics and vaccines are the right strategies for tilapia health management. The morning session ended with a lecture on Advances in Seaweed Research by Ms. Maria Rovilla Luhan. Ms. Luhan showed that in the field, tissue cultured propagules give better growth over that of seaweed started from cuttings. The afternoon session was opened by Dr. Evelyn Grace de Jesus-Ayson with her talk on the Culture of Pompano in Ponds and Cages. Dr. de Jesus-Ayson discussed the nursery and grow-out culture of pompano, Trachionotus blochii, in a net cage set up in brackishwater ponds as well as in marine waters. Nursery culture of fry, which when fed a high protein (46-48%) commercially available diet (FCR 1.5) is very profitable; the farmer can have 3 crops a year. The second presentation in the afternoon was by Dr. Mae Catacutan on Services at SEAFDEC/AQD for Aquaculture Business Ventures. Dr. Catacutan explained in detail the availability of different commodities and analytical or laboratory services offered by SEAFDEC/AQD. The afternoon session was capped by Dr. Relicardo Coloso on his lecture on Cage and Pond Trials of a Premium Feed for Milkfish ‘Chanos chanos’. The SEAFDEC premium feed formulated by Dr. Coloso can produce 500g milkfish in just three and a half months of culture.

The Book Launching and the Lecture Series were officially closed by the Deputy Chief, Dr. Takuro Shibuno. This was followed by the Aquaculture Clinic on the various commodities facilitated by the different experts of the Aquaculture Department, this event ran concurrently with the guided tour of the facilities of the Tigbauan Marine Station.

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AQD scientists and researchers cater the queries of fish farmers and pond operators
AQD's marine fish experts during the aquaculture clinic
AQD’s marine fish experts during the aquaculture clinic

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