Novel initiative helps Filipino fish and shrimp farmers in the Philippines

Ten on-the-job trainees (OJTs) at Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center's aquaculture department (SEAFDEC/AQD) searched for key questions within fish farmer communities on Facebook and researched for answers using SEAFDEC/AQD’s vast repository of digital publications. “Fish farmers have formed large online communities on Facebook where they ask questions, share experiences, and sell their products. We wanted to try reaching them there with quality information,” said Rex Delsar Dianala, officer-in-charge of SEAFDEC/AQD’s development communication section, which is tasked with producing and disseminating information materials. The OJTs, all biology majors of the University of the City of Manila (PLM), focused on Filipino farmer groups such as “Tilapia Farming Philippines” which as of writing has 43,800 members, “Freshwater Fish Farming in the Philippines” (38,600 members), “Freshwater prawn {ulang} philippines” (8,200 members), and “Tilapia and Hito Farming” (8.000 members). ...