Agriculture, LandBank open loan opportunities to fishserfolk

Fishermen living near mariculture parks would soon own fish cages through a financing scheme, the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said over the weekend. "This [scheme] is intended to solve the difficulties confronting fisherfolk in putting up their own fish cages," said Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala. The Fisheries Bureau, he said, is now in the process of putting up techno-demo fish cages in 54 mariculture parks in the country with 10 co-operators in each mariculture park. "Once the co-operator has been identified, we will be providing around P175,000 for the co-operator to put up the techno-demo fish cage," said Fisheries Bureau Director Malcolm Sarmiento. The amount will be used for constructing the fish cage as well as initial stocking. The Fisheries Bureau is eyeing to encourage the cultivation of bangus or milkfish in the techno-demo fish cages. "We hope these techno-demo fish cages will encourage other households to put up their own. Those who want to have their own fish cage may get assistance from the Land Bank of the Philippines," said Sarmiento. The Fisheries Bureau already signed a memorandum of agreement with LandBank that allows each co-operator to borrow up to P400,000 for the construction of the fish cage and finance the initial stocks and feeds. —JE/VS, GMANews.TV