Fisherfolk org in Agusan Norte makes 1st harvest of bangus
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The members of the Makanunayong Mananagat Association sa Ata-atahon (MMAA) made its first harvest of 10.7 metric tons of bangus or milkfish at Barangay Ata-atahon in the municipality of Nasipit in Agusan del Norte on Tuesday, April 30.
This livelihood program is under the bangus production and marketing subproject funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Philippine Rural Development Project’s (PRDP) enterprise or the Investment in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (IREAP) component where the MMAA is a beneficiary.
Eddie A. Nakila, MMAA manager is grateful for the project they received from the government saying, “With the volume of harvest that we have, I am sure that this will help improve our life. I am thankful to all the members because of the cooperation and unity in the implementation of the project.”
“With the success of our project, MMAA membership has extended to other communities in Barangay Ata-atahon,” said Nakila.
The fisherfolk felt glad and elated that buyers from the cities of Cebu and Langihan Public Market in Butuan City fell in line to buy bangus in bulk during their first production harvest.
Nakila also announced that the group has scheduled to make another harvest by next week.
According to DA Caraga Regional Executive Director Arman M. Mangelen, the Bangus Production and Marketing subproject given to MMAA include two Norwegian fish cages and 105,000 Garungan fingerlings, a species of bangus that was delivered to the association in October 2023.
Mangelen said, ‘The I-REAP component project is designed to strengthen and develop viable agri-fishery based enterprises through an efficient value chain of key agricultural and fishery products in targeted program areas that will increase fishery household income and improve the protection and conservation of the natural resources in the region. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
