ey and Mercy Limos started with a 6.6 hectare rice farm in Barangay Santo Rosario in the Philippines. In 1998 when the Aquaculture CRSP Philippines project staff visited them as potential collaborators, they were operating only two backyard fishponds—the rest of the farm was devoted to rice production. Today, the couple have about 1.6 ha converted to tilapia ponds with 5 ha retained for rice farming. They now have three ponds, each with an area of 3000 m2 and another three ponds of 500 m2 each.Based on their estimated profit from tilapia culture, the couple earns an estimated $2,000 per year from each of their large tilapia ponds. With the proceeds, they were able to put up a “nipa” hut (a traditional thatched dwelling) in their backyard, buy a rice thresher, pay for the schooling of their young children, and purchase some household appliances.
During the fish harvest, they call in middlemen, wholesalers, and retailers to buy their tilapia. A portion of the fish harvest is always kept for family consumption, and sometimes tilapia are given as payment to a half dozen or so laborers for their harvesting efforts.
The price of the fish depends upon the size at harvest. The bigger the fish, the higher the selling price. The couple is able to harvest tilapia twice a year.
The Limos’ realize that tilapia farming is helping the economy of the country. To be successful in a tilapia venture, they emphasize the need for sound management and financial stability.
Problems that Ray and Mercy have encountered include poaching (although a rare occurrence in their case), lack of water, and difficulty in draining the ponds due to higher elevation. The latter problem they solve by siphoning the water out.
The Limos’ do not intend to increase the land area devoted to tilapia farming because this area is manageable for them to operate. Nevertheless, they are delighted with the benefits that aquaculture has brought to their lives.
