“Sa Aqua Negosyo, ang Kaalaman at Kasanayan ay Mahalagang Puhunan.”
Interested groups or individuals may now avail of Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ collection of aquaculture technology as the agency made it more accessible during its virtual launching on February 8 in Quezon City.
A component of the “Aqua Negosyo Para sa Pilipino” initiative of the DA-BFAR, the project emphasizes that the key to successful agribusiness, including aquaculture enterprise, is acquiring the right knowledge and technical skills. It integrates the One DA approach to strategic communication while hitting another of the Agriculture department’s key initiative of jumpstarting agribusiness and spurring entrepreneurial and economic development in the countryside through the establishment of Agro-Industrial Business Corridors (ABC).
“At the start of the year, the Department of Agriculture launched the One DA Approach which follows the whole of government approach of the Duterte Administration. Under this approach, we laid down 12 key strategies to achieve a transformed and empowered agriculture and fisheries sector in the country,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.
Putting emphasis on aquaculture development, the DA-BFAR has allotted 70% or an estimated amount of Php1.3B of the total budget of the Fisheries Development Program under the National Fisheries Program to support the aquaculture sector this year.
The Aqua Negosyo initiative provides availability of essential aqua technology information to every Filipino but highly promotes itself to returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and Balik Probinsya availees as well as to small-scale farmers and fisherfolk Filipino who can potentially venture into agribusiness. Among the information materials developed by DA-BFAR’s National Technology Centers available to interested parties are videos of modern technology such as urban aquaponics and instructional guide of culturing sought-after fishery commodities like tilapia, bangus (milkfish), shrimp, seaweeds, and shellfish. Budding aqua entrepreneurs can choose which among the commodities are most appropriate in their area and they can also seek the assistance of the National Technology Centers or DA-BFAR’s regional offices nearest to them.
The Aqua Negosyo information materials can be accessed online through DA-BFAR’s official website and Youtube channel. They will also be available in the DA-BFAR Regional and Provincial Fisheries Offices. ### (DA-BFAR)
