Fisheries On-Air Waves In Cagayan
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 2 (BFAR 2) in Tuguegarao City and the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) of the DOST in collaboration with the Santeh Feeds Corporation, a private company, have conducted the graduation ceremony for the Fisheries School-on-the-Air (FSA)-Mudcrab Culture at the Cagayan State University, Gonzaga, Cagayan on October 16, 2009.
According to Dr. Dalisay Fernandez, Chief Science Research Specialist of the Research Information Utilization Division of the Los Banos-based PCAMRD-DOST, the FSA is a free educational program designed to promote fisheries technologies in strategic areas in the Philippines. This is a relatively new extension methodology and an innovative approach that allows fisherfolk to learn new technologies without leaving their place of work. FSA is a series of canned radio programs covering topics on the culture of tilapia, mudcrab, pomfret, grouper, seabass, and Pacific white shrimp; andon coastal resource management, among others.
The FSA lessons take the form of a drama series, not compared to the drama programs that are popular among rural folks, to have greater appeal to intended audience. The recorded lecture from experts and a simple quiz are then included at the end of the drama segment to complete one learning session. The program takes about 20 to 25 minutes. The FSA mudcrab module consisting of 14 sessions was for two.
Answers to quizzes were then retrieved by or submitted to the Municipal Agriculture Office of each municipality assisted by BFAR RO2 staff, which served as facilitators. Results of the quizzes served as basis for the selection of the model graduates or would-be technology adoptors, who were then awarded during the graduation ceremony.
The farmer named Jovey de Gracia Eduria, one of the 170 graduates of FSA on mudcrab culture said that they were very thankful for learning a new technology without shelling-out a centavo while they were doing their daily routines. He further said that FSA program is an effective and a great way to reach out especially to those wanting to learn more on fishfarming.
During the FSA graduation ceremony, Gonzaga Mayor Rosendo Abad said that programs like FSA are needed to jumpstart countryside development. Municipal Agriculturist Ernesto Leonador also said that the FSA is one of the best extension methodologies for reaching a wider range of audience while Director Jovita Ayson of BFAR 2 said that even the non-captive audience can listen to the program and learn.
Other FSAs aired in other municipalities of Cagayan were tilapia culture and coastal resources management (CRM). Fernandez further said that PCAMRD has also disseminated FSA modules in other areas, namely, seabass culture in Bulacan, pompano culture in Bataan, tilapia culture in Naga City, Camarines Sur, and Tabaco City. FSA CRM was also aired in Quezon province, Cavite, and La Union. At the national level, all FSA programs are aired in the program, “Bago Yan Alt”, hosted by Mr. Angelo Palmones over DZMM, ABS-CBN. FSA modules are produced by PCAMRD-DOST, Santeh Feeds Corporation in coordination with the ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. and the Philippine Foundation for Rural Broadcasters. The FSA culture of saline tilapia and freshwater prawn were sponsored by the Asian Fisheries Academy and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute of the Department of Agriculture.