Small fishpond owners in Negros Occidental will receive aid from the Bureau of Fishery an Aquatic Resources in the form of feeds in a bid to boost milkfish production in the country, a press release from the BFAR said

Provincial BFAR chief Emmanuel Lobredo said each fishpond owner identified by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, will be entitled to get 30,000 worth of feeds per hectare. The program is only limited to two hectares per pond owner, Lobredo said.

He said the Modified Extensive Milk Fish Culture program of the Department of Agriculture adopts a 'rollover scheme' where beneficiaries return the amount lent to them so that other fish farmers can also avail of the program.

The OPA has identified 15 fishpond owners who qualified in the program from all over the province. Bacolod, Cadiz City, Victorias City, E.B. Magalona, Silay City, Binalbagan and Himamaylan have two recipients each, while Cauayan has one, the press release also said.

A total of 30 hectares are covered in the program requiring P900,000 worth of feeds. It will be distributed after beneficiaries go through a seminar-orientation that will be scheduled in the coming weeks, Lobredo said.

A Memorandum of Agreement will be signed by the DA-BFAR, OPA, LGU and the fishpond owners to ensure the success of the project, the press release also said.*

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