Abstract:
The study aims to assess the impact of the Provincial Government Tilapia
Fingerling Production and Dispersal Program (TFPDP) among marginalized fish farmers
in three selected municipalities in Cagayan Province namely: Ballesteros, Lallo and
Lasam. It wants to prove whether the project was beneficial or not to its recipients as
well as to examine its positive and negative effects to them.
There were forty-five fish farmer respondents in all, fifteen from each of the three
selected towns. Information about the program was gathered from the Provincial
Agricultural Office (PAO). Interviews with the agricultural officers were also conducted
for more details about the program. Perspectives of the beneficiaries about the project
were given much focus in the study. Views of 15 non-beneficiaries were also gathered to
further assess the project's real impact.
It is noted in this study that the program benefited its recipients. It was proven
that a part of their daily expenses of the recipients came from the tilapia farming. They
were able to have greater number of catch through the project thus yielding them
additional income. Also, with the program itself, they were able to know proper and
effective tilapia farming techniques making them more aware of the conservation of the
environment and water resources.
The respondents believed they were benefited form the project yet there were
beneficiaries who were not still sure if the TFPDP served their own interest.
At the end of the study the author made different recommendations for future
researchers, for the beneficiaries and for the provincial agriculture officers.
