The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), through its Inland Aquatic Resources Division, conducted a training course titled Feeds, Feeding, and Health Management for Aquaculture Species.
Held recently at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center–Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC-AQD), Tigbauan, Iloilo, the training aimed to improve the researchers’ knowledge and skills on feed preparation, feeding, and health management.
Researchers from selected fisheries state colleges and universities of the National Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Network (NAARRDN) throughout the country joined the training.
The training was a follow-through of the DOST-PCAARRD sponsored training on Feeds, Feeding, and Feed Evaluation of Aquaculture Species conducted in the same venue in 2014.
Dr. Relicardo M. Coloso, Dr. Mae R. Catacutan, and Dr. Rolando V. Pakingking, SEAFDEC-AQD scientists; Dr. Edgar C. Amar and Dr. Vicente Balinasan, Assistant Professors at the UP Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo; and Dr. Dalisay DG. Fernandez, Director of IARD-PCAARRD, served as lecturers and evaluators during the activity.
Topics covered by the lecture include DOST-PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Program, fish nutrition and health management and how they relate to sustainable aquaculture, feed formulation, comparative effects of feeds, major diseases of aquaculture species and their prevention and control, and nutrition and their relation to diseases.
The participants were provided with hands-on training on feed preparation, feeding management in tanks, and collection and analysis of samples for disease diagnosis.
A practicum on feeding management in floating cages and brackishwater ponds was also conducted at SEAFDEC-AQD Demo Farms in Igang, Guimaras, and Dumangas, Iloilo, respectively.
The training, as a culminating activity, gave way to the critiquing of proposals prepared by the participants.
These proposals include the assessment of indigenous material-based feed for Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), corn distillers dried grain as alternative protein source for aquaculture, diagnosis and control of nutritional deficiencies of important aquaculture commodities, the use of aquatic plant as feed ingredient, and the potential use of tawa-tawa (Euphorbia hirta L.) extract on feed and health management of freshwater tilapia.
The training on feeds, feeding, and health management for aquaculture species, is one of DOST-PCAARRD’s initiatives under Outcome One, which is to provide science-based know how and tools that will enable the agricultural sector to raise productivity to world-class standards.
“Development of valuable and productive technologies for the benefit of our agri-aqua beneficiaries is DOST-PCAARRD’s primary interest. The government shall see to it that it brings the fruits of its R&D efforts closer to our people using the most feasible approach and strategies so that they can truly celebrate life with science and technology,” said DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo in his message during a DOST-PCAARRD event.
DOST-PCAARRD showcased this commitment in its participation to the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) on July 24-28 at SMX Mall of Asia, Pasay City.
The 2015 NSTW had the theme Philippines: A Science Nation Innovating for Global Competitiveness.
DOST-PCAARRD, on the other hand, adopted the theme Strategic Industry S&T Program for Agri-Aqua Growth (SIPAG) ni Juan to bolster DOST-PCAARRD’s commitment to Outcome One which the Council pursues, through its Industry Strategic S&T Program, hence the tagline SIPAG ni Juan.