LINGAYEN – The provincial government has taken steps towards improving the province’s agricultural productivity by launching new and effective farming techniques through expanded technology – transfer programs and facilities.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., has reiterated his call for various line agencies to support key agricultural projects in Pangasinan as he stressed that the province has much to offer for the marginalized fish farmers and who want to earn enormous profits in the long run.

“We must not put to waste the vast agricultural potentials of Pangasinan but rather think of alternatives to boost and improve them,” he said.

Earlier, the provincial government tapped the expertise of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to assess and improve production in the province’s fishing stations particularly the Libsong Fish Farm in Lingayen, Malued Fish Farm in Dagupan City and San Quintin Fish Farm.

The upgrading of the Libsong Fish Farm, which will be completed next month, is expected to boost the tilapia hatchery project of the province.

Considered as the ‘model fishing station’ of the province, it has an area of 350 sq. meters and 2,300 sq. meters respectively,, with fifteen (15) units of concrete tanks and three (3) compartments of earthen ponds that will be utilized for the production of 1,308 genetically improved Excel tilapia female fingerlings and 436 male breeders.

The breeders are expected to spawn in June this year with an expected produced of 350,000 pieces by the end of the year.
These breeders will be dispersed in the Malued Fish Farm using floating hapa nets as tilapia hatchery paraphernalia, and at the San Quintin Nursery with structures similar to that in Libsong farm.

The San Quintin fish farm will support the tilapia fingerlings requirement of fishfarmers in the fifth and sixth district municipalities of Pangasinan covering an area of about 516 hectares. (Ruby R. Bernardino and Chona C. Bugayong/PIO)