The Department of Agriculture and National Fisheries Research and Development Institute are bringing snubnose pompano farming to Western Visayas, offering fish farmers a profitable new option.
Under the AquaBiz School–Technology Business Incubation Program, selected farmers from Iloilo and Capiz recently completed hands-on training at the Freshwater Fisheries Research and Development Center in Batangas. They learned every step: choosing sites, preparing ponds, raising young fish, managing growth, feeding, checking water quality, keeping records, and calculating earnings.
Snubnose pompano is not yet widely raised in the country, even though it holds strong promise. The technology draws on work by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center–Aquaculture Department, tested and proven under local conditions by NFRDI.
These pioneer farmers will receive ongoing technical support from NFRDI and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources–Western Visayas as they apply what they learned. They will serve as early adopters, helping spread the method across the region.
NFRDI chief Dr. Maria Theresa Mutia noted that scientific advances truly benefit communities when they reach those who work the land and water. Strong teamwork among researchers, government, and farmers turns proven ideas into steady livelihoods and growing businesses.
This effort expands choices for aquaculture, boosts local food production, and opens fresh income streams for Western Visayas coastal communities.
