The hito is a favorite food among the Filipinos because of its tender and delicious meat. Scientifically called Clarias macrocephalus, this freshwater species is native to the Philippines.
Catfish culture is a potential profitable business due to the fish’ hardiness, tolerance to low levels of oxygen, resistance to diseases, and ability to allow heavy stocking.
Catfish can be raised in ponds and tanks. With good culture management, small tank operators can earn as much as what large pond/tank operators do.
The venture is also a good source of livelihood for fishfarmers nationwide. However, recent findings indicate that catfish is fast becoming scarce in many natural habitats.
Hence, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and its partners formulated the National Native Catfish R&D Program. To revive the ailing catfish industry, this program aims to conserve and increase the production of the native catfish.
Under the said program, PCAARRD shall undertake projects on production and grow-out culture, processing, and value addition, and later on the transfer of technologies to end-users.
Among programs that are lined up for implementation are:
- development of enhanced quality native catfish that includes genetic characterization, broodstock development and refinements of hatchery and nursery;
- improvement of grow-out culture techniques for native catfish consisting of the development of cost-efficient feeds and refinement of culture techniques; and
- development of standards for value-added products of native catfish including, product development and standardization, and storage stability and acceptability studies.