Aquaculture In A New Light – Solar Power In Mimaropa By PH DoST

Metaphorically, “Let there be Light!” DoST said, and there was Fish. Materialistically, this time, the Department of Science & Technology (DoST) is revolutionizing Aquaculture in the Philippines by setting up and launching a solar-powered, intensive aquaculture setup for tilapia, milkfish and white shrimp in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro. 

We learn that from Charissa Luci-Atienza’s report, “First-Of-Its-Kind Aquaculture Facility Launched In Oriental Mindoro – DoST[1],” 21 March 2021, Manila Bulletin).
(lower image[2] from Solartility.com)

The solar-powered aquaculture facility, launched in March[3] in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, was funded under DoST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program “to encourage the industry to adopt smart aquaculture farming systems” to produce more, cost less, and compete better in the market. Owner of the facility is Agritektura Enterprises.

The whole facility can grow 1,500 tilapia breeders, each of which can produce 500 fingerlings per month, while the grow-out ponds can accommodate 13,000 fingerlings. On the other hand, the circular pond can accommodate 100,000 white shrimp fry every rearing season. Solar power reduces the monthly electrical bill by P25,000.

Compared to livestock farming, Mr De La Peña said, “Aquaculture is seen as a (more) promising industry, as commodities show potential in addressing food and nutritional security because of its (more) efficient feed conversion (ratio) compared to livestock production.” Meaning, per unit of feed, fish converts more into flesh than chicken into meat or than cattle into beef.

More fish be with you!

About white shrimp, American kitchen blogger Emma Christensen says, “White shrimp(s) are prized for their large size, their tender texture, and their mild flavor[4]” (Kitchn). In nature, there is a season for the white shrimp – our own PH Ms Charissa does not say or does not quote DoST as saying that the solar-powered aquaculture facility in Oriental Mindoro allows the culturing of white shrimps the whole year through.

Mr De La Peña said:

The solar-powered hatchery can be used for grow-out and production of high-quality fingerlings of tilapia and milkfish. The facility works with a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS). The RAS 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… open pond setting.

 In the RAS, where the water is cleaned out automatically even as it is recirculated, you grow more fish with less space; in the open pond, you can grow only less fish even with more space because the fish & food wastes take more time to settle into the bottom of the pond. With the RAS, technology is your economic ally, your business partner.

About the solar power, it must be the idea itself of Agritektura, which is a Filipino corporation based in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, with a great number of innovative projects. The corporate description speaks for itself (https://agritektura.ph):

AGRITEKTURA… stands for Agrikultura, Arkitektura, Teknolohiya, Edukasyon, Kalikasan, Kalusugan, Kasaysayan, Komersyo, Komunidad, Komunikasyon, Turismo at Kultura.

Agritektura describes itself as a Movement to harness the potential of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon & Palawan (Mimaropa). So, move!@517


[1]https://mb.com.ph/2021/03/21/first-of-its-kind-aquaculture-facility-launched-in-oriental-mindoro-dost/

[2]https://solartility.com/residential-grid-tied/

[3]No exact date given

[4]https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-white-bro-1-149543

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