Farmers in Lanao del Norte are now raising pangasius catfish as the authority has asked them to do so because it has potential to boost their business. In a business forum held recently at the Macapagal Training Center sponsored by the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry Region 10 (DTI-X) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 10 (BFAR-X), farmers are encouraged to raise Pangasius hypophthalmus freshwater catfish because of its potential to boost farmers” income.
Hon. Casimero C. Bagol, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, told that raising this type of freshwater catfish in fishponds will indeed increase the farmers’ income aside from preserving the environment. He was addressing the fishpond operators, agricultural technologists, municipal agricultural officers, municipal and agricultural fishery councils and other stakeholders present in the forum.
Dr Ruel Paclipan, Provincial Director of DTI-Lanao del Norte, assured that his office will undertake steps for possible market matching for business opportunities including abroad. The resource speaker, Dr Gregorio M. Domingo, averred that pangasius has market potentials next to tuna in terms of exporting. This freshwater catfish belongs to the omnivorous species that feed primarily on marine plants and some mollusks. The pangasius has an excellent meat suitable for fish fillet processing.
