AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION

TARGET OF INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF POND-RAISED FISH TO 6.4KG PER CAPITA WILL NOT BE MET DUE TO: 1) SLOW ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY BY PRODUCERS; 2) INADEQUATE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT FRESHWATER AND BRACKISH AQUACULTURE CENTERS; AND 3) OVERESTIMATION OF OPTIMAL TARGET. TARGET MAY BE REACHED ON PANAY ISLAND AND IN PROJECT REGION V BY 1979. BRACKISH AND FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE CENTERS HAVE BOTH MATURED INTO FUNCTIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, ALTHOUGH LINKAGES BETWEEN RESEARCH CENTERS AND EXTENSION WORKERS HAVE NOT DEVELOPED IDEALLY DUE TO BUDGETARY AND ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEMS. INADEQUATE ROADS TO BRACKISH AQUACULTURE CENTER SEVERELY RESTRICTS FLOW OF SUPPLIES. PESO ALLOCATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO CENTERS HAVE BEEN INADEQUATE. FLOODING IN 1974 DESTROYED MANY PONDS AND CAUSED SHORTAGES OF SEED FISH- CREDIT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT FOR SMALL PRODUCERS TO OBTAIN. FURTHER, LEASING PROCEDURES INVOLVE APPROVAL OF SEVERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND CAN TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS. LESSONS LEARNED INCLUDE NEED TO EMPHASIZE MOTIVATIONAL ASPECT OF EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AND NEED TO ESTABLISH RELIABLE BASELINE STATISTICS FOR PROPER EVALUATION/MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH.