According to Secretary Tiu Laurel, the cyber libel case he filed sends a clear message: The Department of Agriculture (DA) will no longer tolerate misinformation that damages: Product prices Consumer confidence The image of farmers and fishers Government agricultural programs On social media, false information spreads quickly, such as: Claims of rice or sugar shortages Rumors about banning or confiscating livestock like pigs or chickens Fake price reports that alarm buyers and traders When these posts circulate, farmers and fishers are often the most affected. Here are some real impacts of misinformation on the agriculture sector: 1. Falling Farmgate Prices When false claims spread about oversupply or poor product quality, farmgate prices can drop—even if the information isn’t true. 2. Panic Buying and Market Price Spikes Fake news about shortages (rice, sugar, onions, pork) can trigger panic buying: Market prices surge Farmers don’t benefit fairly Mi...
From OFW to Successful Aquapreneur: How a Bilar Fish Farmer Found Success in Ulang and Tilapia Farming
In the heart of Bilar, Bohol, a remarkable transformation is taking place — a former overseas worker, now a thriving fish farmer, is showing how innovation, training, and hard work can turn dreams into reality. Recently, Ms. Dalagan , a beneficiary of the Aquabiz School-Technology Business Incubation (ABS-TBI) project, successfully completed her second production cycle, harvesting 50.75 kilos of giant freshwater prawn (ulang) and a staggering 938.25 kilos of tilapia . Her aquaculture venture, set on two ponds totaling 1,400 square meters , flourished over just four months , using advanced techniques and a complete Package of Technology (POT) developed for tilapia-ulang polyculture. Cultivating Success with Technology The farming journey wasn’t just about placing fingerlings in water — it was science-backed and technology-driven. Key performance results included: Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR): 7.29 for ulang, 0.87 for tilapia Survival Rates: 41.23% for ulang, 46.91% for tila...