LAOAG CITY– The Provincial Agriculture Office is set to distribute around 200,000 tilapia fingerlings in time for the fishery month celebration this month.
Dr. Luz Ortal of the Provincial Agriculture Office reported on Saturday these will be distributed to individuals interested to venture into fishf farming as additional source of livelihood.
In support of the national government’s program to boost food security and sustainable development, Ilocos Norte aims to distribute one million tilapia fingerlings to be distributed in all the province’s communal inland bodies of water this year.
Arthur Valente, Provincial Fisheries Coordinator of Ilocos Norte under the Provincial Agriculture Office, said the provincial government maintains at least four fish farm facilities where they mass produce tilapia fingerlings.
To date, the agriculture office continues to distribute fingerlings covering the 21 municipalities and two cities of Ilocos Norte.
The tilapia fingerlings distribution is one of the pilot programs of the provincial government to reach out to around 74,000 registered fisherfolk in the province.
By giving them start-up capital, it is expected that they will be able to sustain fish farming in the long run.
Next year, Ilocos Norte plans to establish a fish laboratory and upgrade its fish farm facilities to enhance the implementation of livelihood program. PNA-northboundasia.com