AQD assists in rural aquaculture training in the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia

AQD assisted in the conduct of the Human resource development (HRD) on-site training course on rural aquaculture in three SEAFDEC member countries -- Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia. The training series is part of the SEAFDEC project entitled HRD on poverty alleviation and food security by fisheries intervention in the ASEAN Region funded by the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund of the ASEAN Foundation. Graduates of the HRD training of trainers in aquaculture that was conducted by AQD in 2008 helped facilitate the training and demonstration sessions for small-scale fishers, farmers and other stakeholders in their respective countries.

In the Philippines, 21 trainees participated in the course on abalone farming held September 28 to October 2 in Catbalogan, Samar. The course had lectures on abalone culture, socioeconomics and financial analysis, followed by hands-on and demonstration sessions. Other topics included siganid culture in cages, aquasilviculture, and identification of seaweeds. AQD staff Mr. Vincent Encena II and Ms. Dianne Hope Tormon were the resource persons while BFAR training center head Ronnie Berida provided logistical support.

In Indonesia, 15 trainees attended the course on catfish culture given by AQD researchers Dr. Ma. Lourdes Aralar and Ms. Antonietta Evangelista. The course was held in Boyolali Regency, Central Java from October 20 to 24, and focused on seed production and grow-out of the Dumbo catfish. The Indonesian Departmen Kelautan dan Perikanan (Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries) helped organize and facilitate the course.

Meanwhile, in Cambodia, 20 persons took part in the course covering nursery and grow-out of high value fish species such as grouper, snapper and seabass. Coordinated by Mr. Neang Sovuthdy of the Cambodian Fishery Administration (FiA), the course was held in Tomnok Rolok, Sihanoukville from November 11 to 17. AQD researcher Didi Baticados and AQD’s Igang station head Mr. Albert Gaitan were resource persons. Additional topics discussed included disease management, marketing of aquaculture products and participatory resource assessment.