The president of Dominican Council of Fisheries and Agriculture (Codopesca)Carlos José Then, revealed that in the next week will meet with President Luis Abinader to present an aggressive fish production plansince the program “Pescadería de Barrio” that is managed as a cooperative is a great contribution to the income and food of the population that deserves to be increased.
Then referred to the proposal of LISTÍN DIARIO, through its editorial, where it states that the planting program announced by President Abinader, also includes a massive fish production program in dam lakes, in rural ponds and in marine farms, where different varieties can be obtained, including shellfish.
He said that the program “Neighborhood Fish Market” is directly related to current and future food security.
He cited that there are currently 30 fishmongers open that are supplied by tilapia production systems in different parts of the country, such as the community of San Luis, Presa de Hatillo, Bao Taveras, Copeyito, Nagua and others.
Managed by women
the fishmongers are managed by women in neighborhoods of the capital such as El Tamarindo, Pantoja, Los Alcarrizos, Ensanche Quisqueya and in La Caleta, Boca Chica, among others.
The fish of the variety of tilapia weighing one pound and a little more are purchased from the producer at RD$110 per pound before Holy Week and the women of the cooperatives of the plan sell them in their neighborhoods for between RD$130 and RD$135 per pound.
He gave as an example that there are success stories of this program, such as that of a lady who rented a place and put a fryer and a griddle and now even has a “delivery” to distribute them in the neighborhood.
propose a school
Then said that too prepare to develop a National School of Aquaculture. He argued that even when the entity is precarious in its budget from the Government there is interest in contributing to the promotion of these projects.
The executive director of Codopesca also said that he also signed agreements with the Agricultural Bank and with the Agricultural Development Fund (FEDA) to fill the country with projects. Codopesca signed another agreement with Promipyme, added Then, an entity that has financed RD$15 million to 12 fish farmers.
He mentioned that the Agricultural Bank finances aquaculture projects for associations and groups of producers. In the country there are several projects for raising tilapia in lagoons and in cages for local consumption, commercial and export purposes.
In this regard, the director of Codopesca indicated that work is being done to strengthen the national aquaculture sectorHe argued that the fishing sector requires many resources and technical preparation and therefore is more complex than the aquaculture sector, which is only land ownership, preparing it and putting it to produce and create good quality proteins at a good price.
expansion plans
He stressed that Codopesca currently develops three programs. Pescadería de mi Barrio began last year with fishmongers set up by Codopesca in the neighborhoods of the Capital, “and this year we are going to leave the District, from the city of Santo Domingo to the provinces, where we provide a complete accompaniment to the producer of tilapia and we put those fish to single mothers in their homes”, he indicated.
To these single mothers, Codopesca gives them the scales and all the necessary tools to sell these fish and thus bring income and protein to the population, without intermediation costs.
In five months, he reported, a fish farmer can get a one- to one-and-a-half pound fish And good quality .
editorial value
The director of Codopesca, Carlos José Then, valued the Listín Diario editorial “On the right path”, as a measure to contribute to food security in the country in times of difficulties caused by the Russian war.
Proposal
The editorial argues that the government of President Luis Abinader is on the right track when it establishes a massive planting program, a strategy that should have included a massive program of fish farming in the lakes of the dams, in rural ponds and in marine farms, to obtain varieties and shellfish, in dam lakes, in rural ponds and on marine farms.