TUGUEGARAO CITY: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has launched the Urban Aquaponics Project in response to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Plant, Plant, Plant Pprogram. Jenifer Tattao, Aquaculture Section chief, explained aquaponics as the combination of growing fish like hito and tilapia with high-value vegetables like lettuce. She said the secret was the symbiotic relationship between fish and plant, where the waste of fish would serve as fertilizer for the plant which in turn would maintain clean water for the fish. “Aquaponics is an effective way to augment the supply of food especially in urban areas,” Tattao added. Meanwhile, the Farmers and Fisherfolk Month culminated with BFAR Region 2 and the DA Regional Field Office 2 expressing appreciation to fishers and farmers in the region in their role as food producers. Dr. Milagros Morales, BFAR Region 2 director, said fishing is one of the prime livelihoods in Region 2, with more than 97,000 registered fisherfolk in the region producing the needed fish supply in the country.
