Backyard Tilapia Production

Tilapia is the second most important freshwater food in the Philippines. The most important specie is the Nile (Tilapia nilotica) Tilapia grows very fast and reaches marketable weight of at least 200 grams in less than six months. A backyard fishpond for tilapia will increase family income because it is a good quality food suitable for processing into dried, smoked, or salted dried.

Estimated Investment Cost (in Php based on 2009 market data)

A. Supplies

Tilapia fingerlings, 1200 pcs @P1.25 each - P1,500.00Chicken manure, 2 sacks @P60/sack – 120.00Feeds – 1,870.00Fertilizers - 250.00Subtotal – P 3,740.00

B Materials and Equipment for Construction of  Concrete Pond

Water pump - P7,350.00Hollow blocks (6” x 8” x 16?), 720 pcs @P10/pc - 7,200.00Cement, 55 bags @P205/bag - 11,275.00Sand, 4 cu. m. @p1, 700/2 cu. m.  - 3,400.00PVC pipe (4?), 1 pc - 520.00Steel bar (12mm), 3 pcs @P110.00/pc - 330.00Tie wire, 1 kg - 50.00Mesh wire, 2 yards @P32/yard - 64.00Plastic rope, 20 meters @ P13/meter - 260.00Digging bar – 400.00Bolo - 250.00Shovel - 150.00Lift net – 750.00Subtotal - P 31,999.00

Procedure

A. Fishpond Selection and Preparation

Select Fishpond with the following characteristics:

Clay soil to hold water.Water is accessible throughout the year and can be sourced from river, spring, deep well, rain or tap water. It must be free from pesticide contamination and pollution.Site is elevated for water to flow easily.Pond size could be 30-200 sqm. initially and can be expanded.Should not be flooded during the rainy season and has enough sunlight.Level the bottom of the pond to prevent seepage.Conduct pond treatment only in concrete ponds to remove the toxic effect of cement Do this by washing, flooding, and draining the pond at least 3 times.Fertilize with organic fertilizer (chicken manure) at a rate of 1 kg/sqm.Fill the pond with water at an initial depth of 5-10 cm after the application of organic fertilizer for a week. This would allow the growing of algae to serve as natural feed for the fish. Growth can be observed through the greenish coloration of water.Fill the pond with water to the desired level between 1 m to 1.5 m.To insure no fish will escape, fine-meshed wire should screen the drainage area (pipe).

B. Stocking

Stock during the early morning or late in the afternoon when the water is cool to avoid the weakening of the fish. Care should be maintained. Choose pure quality stocks and do not allow them to crossbreed with other species to preserve their genetic quality.Deliver the fingerlings to the pond in oxygenated plastic bags to ensure maximum survival of the fingerlings.To assimilate water in plastic bags, open the plastic bags of fingerlings to float within the pond from 30 minutes to one hour. Open the plastic bags in water to allow the fingerlings to swim freely.Stock the ponds of at least 6 fingerlings/sqm. The ratio is 1 male is to 3 females. Avoid to pair many male tilapias because this tends to slow down the production of fingerlings since they tend to eat their own fingerlings due to lack of feed.

C. Care and Maintenance

Feed the tilapias twice daily (morning and afternoon) in one portion of the pond. Supplement feeds with fine rice bran, bread crumbs, earthworms and others at an Initial rate of 5% of the total body weight of the fish.Maintain the natural fishfood by adding more fertilizer every week. Place chicken droppings in sacks and suspend in the water at every comer of the pond. Put 2.5 kg of chicken manure per bag.Maintain a water depth level of 1-1.5 meters.Gradually remove excess fingerlings after the third month of stocking. Retain 6 fingerlings/sqm. Excess fingerlings can be used in the manufacture of fish meal and as ingredient for livestock and poultry needs.Plant kangkong and gab/ at one portion of the pond to provide shade for the fish during hot weather and to serve as growing media for natural fish food Water lily also provides shade. However, do not totally cover the pond with plants as these will Interfere with the natural food production process.Prevent seepages and leakages by patching them with mud. Clear the pond dikes with weeds.Plant trees and grass near the dike to avoid erosion and avoid dumping of garbage.

D. Harvesting

Introduce catfish to the pond to control the population of small fishes for at least three months before harvest After 4-6 months, tilapias weigh 200-400 grams and are ready for harvest.Drain the pond totally and allow fish to accommodate the lowest portion in the drainage area for easy harvesting. After harvesting, stock the pond again.

Estimated Costing and Pricing (in Php based on 2009 market data)

A. Direct cost (fingerlings, feeds, fertilizers)/202 kg – 7.20B. Indirect cost (labor, water, electricity, contingency)/202 kg – 34.08C. Production cost (A+B) – 52.02D. Product pricing (C+30% mark-up) – 67.02Market price/kilo = P70.00

Tips:

Estimated pricing and costing is based on a 100 sqm. concrete pond.Tilapia weigh at an average of 200-250 grams and are sold at 4-5 pieces for every kilo.The higher the volume (and larger the pond area) of production per season (more than 202 kgs.), the lower the production cost, thus further increasing the mark-up to more than 30%. The higher the mark-up, the more profits earned.If price per kilogram is lower compared with the existing market price, increase mark-up to more than 30%.

Registration Requirements

Business name registration (www.bnrs.dti.gov.ph)Mayor’s/Business Permit (check your local municipality/city)BIR TIN (www.bir.gov.ph)

Financing Facility

Agricultural Credit Council (www.acpc.gov.ph)Other Financing Institutions (loans.mixph.com)

Technical Assistance (Training and Seminar)

source: DTI-PTTC, photo from escapefromamerica.com

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