Production of catfish variety gains ground in Mindanao

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Production of a new catfish (hito) variety is gaining ground in this city, which is determined to produce a stable supply of this "next-generation fish." The new variety, Pangasius, is also known as sutchi catfish or striped catfish. The most common varieties being grown in the country are African and native catfish. In an interview earlier this week, Rochelle A. Otoc, industry development officer for the local Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here, said the country is importing 500 metric tons of Pangasius fillet from Vietnam used by restaurants and fastfood chains. "Based on consultations with fish pond owners in the region, they can easily provide the initial 30 hectares targeted for the commercial production of the catfish," Ms. Otoc told BusinessWorld. Citing a study, she said that the production cycle for Pangasius runs six months, with one fish weighing from one to one-and-a-half kilogram. The production cost for each fish amounts to P33.38. A one-hectare freshwater pond can accommodate 100,000 fingerlings, which could net at least 85,000 kilos at 85% survival rate, Ms. Otoc said on conservative estimates. After the six-month cycle, mature live fish fetches P50/kg at farm-gate price but could rise to P130/kg when sold as fillets, Ms. Otoc said, noting that a kilo of fillets can be produced from three fish. In Vietnam’s Mekong River, adult Pangasius can reportedly grow up to four feet in length and weigh up to 44 kgs. Dorecita T. Delima, DTI-Central Mindanao assistant regional director, said a Pangasius demonstration farm was recently inaugurated here where 3,000 fingerlings were dispersed. "To increase investments in the region and provide more employment, we are promoting inland fishing of this fish variety," Ms. Delima said. To this end, a Pangasius Industry Cluster has been organized. Ms. Delima is optimistic that fishpond owners in the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani will realize the potential of Pangasius and will start production by converting some of their tilapia and African or native catfish ponds. Ms. Otoc said that unlike the African or native catfish varieties that thrive on fish or chicken entrails, Pangasius can be cultivated using feedstocks. She said the cultivation of Pangasius offers not only marketing opportunity for producers in the country but also abroad since the fish is in great demand in the US, Europe and Russia. — Romer S. Sarmiento, BusinessWorld