PRIMEX News

PRIMEX engaged in study on strategizing
aquaculture for country's poverty reduction

BFAR chief lauds new ADB grant

Posted on 21 Aug 2006

As the country’s aquaculture sector continues to show promise as  a primary source of fish products, both locally and internationally, PRIMEX is in the forefront of harmonizing sector policies, actions and milestones and drafting strategies to ensure the aquaculture sustainability and profitability.

PRIMEX, in association with Malaysian firm WorldFish Center, is currently engaged by Asian Development Bank to implement an eight-month strategy study on sustainable aquaculture development aimed at reducing poverty incidence in the country (ADB RETA 4708-PHI).

The ADB project, which started last July, is an advisory and operational technical assistance (ADTA) grant to the Government of the Philippines (GOP) through the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) to help formulate and disseminate a medium- to long-term aquaculture subsector strategy.

The expected strategy includes an integrated action plan which outlines interventions and investments that will reduce poverty and enhance the sustainability of the aquaculture subsectors including freshwater, brackishwater and marine aquaculture (mariculture).

BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento, Jr. said he finds the implementation of the grant ‘providential’ as it came at a time when “certain major decisions have to be made and when directions and thrusts have to be set to ensure that aquaculture in the Philippines would continue to be profitable, sustainable, and socioeconomically acceptable.”

He also indicated that with BFAR as the lead government agency involved in developing production, research, and training for aquaculture and fisheries, in general, the country’s fisheries sector exhibited annual growth rates of 10-15 percent which, in turn, resulted in increased employment and incomes for Filipinos in the last six years.

“At this time when production from marine capture fisheries has slowed down, it is reassuring to note that the gap is being filled up by sharp increases in the production of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other products coming from aquaculture,” Sarmiento told an audience during the Project Visioning and Teambuilding Workshop last July 18-19 at Astoria Hotel. Being the primary user of the Strategy Report at the completion of the ADTA, Sarmiento said BFAR expects the Report to “produce reliable, updated, and accurate data on exactly where we are (aquaculture sector) and exactly what we should be doing.”

To this end, PRIMEX and WorldFish consultants are expected to formulate strategies for the development of the country’s aquaculture sector. They will produce at least three major documents including a Synthesis Document, Strategy Document to Increase Impact, and Policy Brief to better target small-scale fishfarmers.

PRIMEX provides the services of domestic consultants for the project including the Deputy Team Leader/Aquaculture and Fisheries Policy and Institutions Specialist (Annabelle C. Trinidad), Aquaculture and Product Processing Specialist (Dr. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap), Aquaculture Trade and Marketing Specialist (Dr. Flordeliza A. Lantican), Aquaculture Specialist for Marine and Brackishwater (Mr. Wilfredo G. Yap), Aquaculture Specialist  for Freshwater (Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III), Environment and Fish Health Management Specialist (Dr. Celia Lavilla-Pitogo), Community Development Specialist (Ms. Ma. Linnea V. Tanchuling), Credit, Economics and Finance Specialist (Ms. Eleanora E.Tan), and Fisheries Legal Specialist (Atty. Jay L. Batongbacal) – (ADY)

About ADB TA 4708-PHI

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