The first-of-its kind solar-powered Tilapia and Milkfish hatchery and intensive aquaculture facility has been launched in Oriental Mindoro, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has disclosed. 

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the facility, which was launched on March in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro,  was set up through the funding provided by DOST Mimaropa under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) "to encourage the industry to adopt smart aquaculture farming systems to increase productivity and enhance market competitiveness.”

Through DOST Mimaropa’s assistance,  Agritektura Enterprises was able to set up a solar-powered hatchery for tilapia and milkfish alongside its intensive aquaculture facility for white shrimp.

"The solar-powered hatchery can be used for grow-out and production of high-quality fingerlings of tilapia and milkfish and to sustain the facility’s Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS),” de la Peña said during his weekly report on Friday, March 19. 

"The newly established intensive aquaculture facility is considered as the first of its kind in the entire region, composed of the hatchery, grow-out ponds, and a 10-diameter circular pond,” he noted.

De la Peña said the entire facility has a full capacity of 1,500 breeders that can produce 500 fingerlings per breeder per month, while the grow-out ponds have the capacity of 13,000 fingerlings. 

The circular pond, on the other hand, can accommodate 100,000 white shrimp fry per rearing season, he added.

"The structure is also fully solar power-operated that helps the enterprise reduce its monthly electrical expenses by as much as PhP 25,000.00. RAS, on the other hand, is a unique fish farming technique that allows rearing of fish at high densities or in tanks with a “controlled” environment rather than in an outdoor or open pond setting,” the DOST chief said.

He said the facility’s RAS incorporates a recirculating systems filter and cleans the water for recycling back through fish culture tanks.

"Aquaculture is seen as a promising industry as  commodities show potential in addressing food and nutritional security because of its efficient feed conversion compared to livestock production,” de la Peña said.

He explained that aquatic products such as farmed shrimp and fish have lower feed conversion ratio of 1.0-2.4 compared to beef with 6.0-10.00, pigs with 2.7-5.0, and chicken  with 1.7-2.0  due to its buoyant and cold-blooded characteristics. 

"Through the adoption of new S&T solutions, productivity of aquatic resources in the province is expected to increase over time,” de la Peña said.