Training courses for Negros LGUs, Guimaras fisherfolk

Local government personnel and fisherfolk from Negros Occidental and Guimaras, respectively, benefited from AQD training courses conducted last October. The training courses focused on two economically important aquaculture commodities, namely abalone and milkfish.

Abalone training for Negros
Four LGU staff from the Southern Negros Coastal Development Management Council (SNCDMC) underwent a 12-day Special training course on abalone hatchery and grow-out from October 5-16.

While the trainees attended comprehensive lectures on abalone biology, aquaculture, feeding, and economics, the bulk of the training focused on actual hatchery and grow-out operations in AQD’s Tigbauan Main Station (TMS) and Igang Marine Station (IMS). The group also visited a private abalone hatchery in Oton which was established using AQD technology.

SNCDMC is an alliance of three LGUs namely Sipalay City, and the municipalities of Cauayan and Hinoba-an in Negros Occidental.

The training course is part of SNCDMC’s Livelihood diversification program for Southern Negros which involves the establishment of abalone farms in Sipalay City and Hinoba-an as well as seaweed farming and pen culture of mud crabs in mangroves in Cauayan.

More training courses for SNCDMC is in the pipeline with an on-site training course on seaweeds farming slated next month and more in 2010.

Training on milkfish for Guimaras fisherfolk
The second phase of the Season-long training course on milkfish cage culture, which is implemented in four barangays in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras is part of a collaborative pilot project on Mariculture livelihood program for Guimaras fisherfolk between AQD, Petron Foundation Inc, and Citi Philippines. Two training sessions were held last October.

Brgy. San Antonio. Fisherfolk from Brgy. San Antonio attended their last training module on Fish health management, business planning, financial analysis, and cooperatives development and management last October 8 to 9 at Roma Beach Resort in the said barangay.

On the first day, a lecture on business planning and management was given by Training and Information Division Head Mr. Renato Agbayani while Scientist Dr. Edgar Amar gave a talk and a demonstration on disease diagnosis, prevention, and control.

On the second day, Igang Marine Station Head Mr. Albert Gaitan lectured on cage operation and maintenance, Senior Technical Assistant Ms. Dianne Hope Tormon on financial analysis, and lastly, Researcher Ms. Didi Baticados lectured on the development and management of cooperatives.

Brgys. Igang, Magamay, and Sto. Domingo. Meanwhile, the last training module, Post-harvest and marketing of milkfish, for Brgys. Igang, Magamay, and Sto. Domingo was held last October 26-27 at the Nueva Valencia National High School.

Eighty-eight participants from the three barangays were treated with lectures which were given by Ms. Rose Mueda, a researcher from the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Institute of Fish Processing Technology (IFPT).

Ms. Mueda also facilitated the practicals with the help of Ms. Rosana Alama and Ms. Nida Momblan, who were laboratory assistants also from IFPT.

Among the topics covered were product development, value added products from aquaculture, product formulation, proper handling and icing, and market potential and marketing strategies.

During practical sessions, trainees eagerly observed demonstrations on milkfish deboning before trying it out themselves.

They also prepared three marinade solutions (hamonado, lamayo, and adobo) where they soaked their deboned fish. Their finished products were served for lunch on the second day.

Before closing the training session, the materials used in preparing the marinades were also turned-over to the different fisherfolk organizations from the three barangays in order to jumpstart their fish processing venture.