Piloto para la Crianza del Paiche con la Nacionalidad Cofán del Ecuador

The project focused on the pilot cultivation of the paiche (Arapaima gigas) in the Cofán territory. The paiche is a species emblematic of Amazonian biodiversity, characterized by its large size, high-quality meat, and adaptability to cultivation conditions. The project was implemented by a consortium of organizations, including the Nationality Originaria A'I Kofan del Ecuador (NOA'IKE), the Coordinadora Indígenas de las Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica (COICA), the Instituto del Bien Común (IBC), and the Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF). The project aimed to develop a sustainable and profitable paiche cultivation model for the Cofán community. The cultivation of paiche requires specific conditions, including high-quality water, adequate biomass per square meter, and proper feeding. The project team monitored the water quality parameters, including temperature, turbidity, color, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, and carbon dioxide levels. The results showed that the water quality parameters were within the optimal range, indicating a suitable environment for paiche cultivation. The project team also evaluated the biomass per square meter, which is a critical factor in paiche cultivation. The initial biomass per square meter was 0.33 kg/m2, and it increased to 0.54 kg/m2 by the end of the project. The team estimated that the biomass per square meter would reach 1.05 kg/m2 by the project's completion. The paiche is a carnivorous species that has adapted to eat inert food, such as commercial fish feed with high protein content and domestic blends of fish meal with commercial feed. The project team used a commercial fish feed with 40% protein content, which resulted in an estimated conversion rate of 1.30 kg of feed per kilogram of weight gain. The project team evaluated the growth of the paiche, considering the quality of the water and other cultivation conditions. The results showed that the paiche grew from 3.20 kg to 4.95 kg in two months, consuming an average of 480 kg of feed per animal, with a conversion rate of 1.30. This result is comparable to other species cultivated in the Amazonian region, such as tilapia and cachama. The project team also calculated the conversion rate of the paiche, which is a critical factor in determining the profitability of the cultivation model. The results showed that the conversion rate of the paiche was 1.3, which is higher than other species cultivated in the region. This indicates that the cultivation model adopted by the Cofán community is the most profitable. The project's results show that the paiche cultivation model adopted by the Cofán community is the most profitable, with a 18.75% increase in profitability compared to the Cofán community in Peru and a 27.78% increase compared to Peces Tropicales in Lago Agrio. The project's success demonstrates the potential for sustainable and profitable paiche cultivation in the Cofán territory, contributing to the economic development of the community and the conservation of the Amazonian biodiversity.