Two farmers’ associations in this city are now seeing the fruits of their labor after their cage culture of “ulang” (freshwater prawns) yielded bountiful results.

In January this year, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Ilocos Norte released some 45,000 post-larvae prawns in five small water-impounding dams in the villages of Mabaleng, Pimentel, Batac East, Magnuang and Dariwdiw, with some cultured in cages maintained by farmers’ associations.

After more than six months, they are due for harvest.

As one of the recipients of the project, the Southern Pimentel Farmers’ Association said prawn farming has given them an alternative source of income in communal bodies of water.

Freshwater prawns, which are common in llocos, Cagayan and other parts of Northern Luzon, are high-valued species that command a competitive price in the market — from PHP450 to PHP600 per kilo — and sell fast particularly among balikbayan (returning overseas Filipinos) and restaurant owners.

With the success of the project, senior aquaculturist Vanessa Alimbuyuguen of BFAR-Ilocos Norte told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that more farmers in various parts of the province have expressed interest to participate.

To sustain the local production of freshwater prawns, Alimbuyugen reported the first ulang hatchery funded under the provincial government’s Sustainable Agroforestry Farm Enterprise-Bamboo Business Model (SAFE-BBM) program is now fully operational in Barangay Nangguyudan in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

“The facility will provide a nearby source of post larvae for fisherfolk who wish to venture into ulang culture,” she said.

Under the SAFE-BBM program, BFAR will be distributing more aquaculture inputs and ulang dispersal to interested farmers’ associations to promote inclusive and sustainable aquaculture development in the province. (PNA)