Local fisherfolks at Barangay Sucuban in Omar, Sulu were trained on lobster culture practices in an effort to boost their economic prospects. (Sylvia Calderon/BIO)
OMAR, Sulu — Some fisherfolks in Barangay Sucuban of this town underwent a training on lobster farming practices to enhance their economic prospects through sustainable lobster aquaculture.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Sulu Provincial Office, in partnership with the Bangsamoro Development Authority, Inc (BDA) and the Mindanao State University (MSU) Sulu, organized the training on August 19 with participants from the Madjid Kalang Lobster Producers Cooperative.
Fardia Abduhasad, the office-in-charge fisheries chief of MAFAR-Sulu, delivered lectures focusing on the technical aspects of lobster culture and its value chain analysis, aimed at making the participants well-versed in both the science and business of lobster farming.
BDA Executive Director Radzni Taalim emphasized in an interview that “the primary objective of the project is [to enhance] the lobster value chain,” which is crucial for selling lobsters in major cities like Zamboanga, Cebu, and Manila.
“The idea is through cooperative; to develop the cooperative, we provide them capacity building and profit-sharing [opportunities], and among others, to uplift the life of the Tausug people in the community,” said Taalim.
Notably, on August 7, a Lobster Aqua Culture facility was handed over to the cooperative members, with Omar Municipal Mayor Abdulbaki Adjibon present at the event.
This facility is part of the 4.5 million project package, funded by the European Union, which also includes training, capacity building, and equipment such as solar panels, freezers, motorized banca (jungkung), and lobster cages. An initial batch of 300 lobster fingerlings was also provided to the cooperative.
The cooperative members, along with Mayor Adjibon, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the project, appreciating the support extended by MAFAR, which they believe will significantly uplift their livelihoods.
The Bangsamoro Government, led by CM Ahod Ebrahim, is committed to empowering individuals in the fisheries industry by offering necessary training, resources, and sustainable practices. This dedication aims to support economic prosperity and cultivate a skilled community of fisherfolks. (Alline Jamar M. Undikan/BIO)
