Review and assessment of socio-economic issues of Aquaculture in the Philippines (Project No 26359)

Abstract

The study included a review of the previous literature that focused on poverty reduction through aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region. It was followed by an investigation of 285 farms spread across five villages (barangays) in two regions, namely Region III and Region IVA in Philippines dominated by different systems of aquaculture. Several socio-economic factors influenced the household income from aquaculture including age, skills/training, and engagement in aquaculture type of management, institutional options and access to markets. Households involved themselves in aquaculture for survival and livelihood diversification, especially the poor households who depended on such incomes for gap-filling or safety net functions. Aquaculture is providing new opportunities for poor, women and youth, despite constraints that include, inadequate access to credit, lack of skills and licenses to farming fish. In the Philippines, pro-policies exist, but require political will for implementation. Development programmes should be context specific and dynamic, addressing the needs and interests of the vulnerable groups.