KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/2 December))— Alsons Aquaculture Corp., based in Alabel, Sarangani, has forged an agreement with two cooperatives to increase the production of export quality bangus or milkfish
An agribusiness unit of the Alcantara Group, Alsons signed up with the KawasMariculture Producers’ Cooperative and Sarangani Seaweeds Producers’ Cooperative to culture the fish in sea cages.
Under the agreement,Alsons will buy all their harvests at a price determined by a pricing committee created for this project
This partnership would address local and international market demand for value-added products produced from 600-800 grams milkfish or known as XL Bangus, a report from the Provincial Information Office said.
With this partnership, Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez said it would be the first time in the country for Land Bank of the Philippines to grant the growers financing for the project without any collateral.
Bangus business is among the priority industries being developed and promoted in Region 12.
Last year, Region 12 or Soccsksargen Region produced 21,234 metric tons (MT) out of the country’s total production of 372,581 MT.
Engr. NenitaBarroso, Department of Trade and Industry provincial director, said the national bangus production “continues to increase at a slow pace but is now driven by production from marine pens and cages.”
Based on the Bureau Agricultural Statistics data from 2006 to June 2011, the South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City area ranked six across all regions in the country in terms of bangus production, with Alsons as the leading company in Region 12 exporting frozen milkfish to the United States (US) and non-US markets. (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)
