PROJECT PROPOSAL
I. Title: MUD CRAB WITH MILKFISH PRODUCTION (POLYCULTURE)
II. Project Proponent: Rhea Rose V. Sinadhan
09505586155
III. Project Duration: 4 months
IV. Project Location: Purok 25 Akasya Baan Km.3, Butuan City
V. Total Project Expenses: Php. 517,448.53.53
VI. Project Description:
The proposed project which shall be raised is ‘MUD CRAB WITH MILKFISH
PRODUCTION (POLYCULTURE)’ shall consist of 15,000 juveniles, and 7,500 pieces fry with the
pond measurement about 1 hectare, duration targeted about 250 g of crab each and 250 g of
milkfish each when harvested and marketed.
VII. Rationale:
Mud crab known as alimango in the local dialect is probably one of the most edible
and widely sought species that inhabit the estuarine area of tidal rivers and creeks in the Asian
and Indo-Pacific region. Mud crabs are classified under genus Scylla and is reported to three
species; Scylaa serrata, S.oceanica, S.tranquebarica and a variety of S.Serrata var
paramamosain. S.serrata being considered to be the most widely caught species in the
swamps of the Philippines. The crab species Scylla serrata is the biggest and most important
member of the family of edible crabs in the Philippines. Typically, males guard mature females,
cradling them prior to their moult. The male carries the female underneath him using three
pairs of walking legs. The male can successfully mate and transfer spermatophores (packets of
sperm) into the female’s spermathecum once she has molted and is soft shelled. During
copulation, which may last 7–18 hours, the male turns the female upside down. The female
stays in the protection of the male until her shell is fully hardened, which may be several days.
The subsequent development of the ovary can be seen by depressing and pushing forwards the
first abdominal segment next to the carapace on female crabs. Ovaries change color as they
mature, progressing from transparent through to yellow and finally dark orange, although a
more accurate description of the maturation process can be obtained through microscopic
examination.
Commercial crab farming business is gaining popularity day by day in many coastal areas
around the world. So far culture is largely traditional. Farming mud crab has a high demand in
the local market and even in export. Mud crab or alimango, is considered a delicacy and has
become a popular in many seafood restaurants. It is sought for its very tasty aligue or ripe eggs
in the ovary. It is large, have a good taste especially when cooked with ginataan. Milkfsih on the
other hand subsists on natural food. (Lab-lap, plankton, lumut).
Other economic importance of mud crabs are also they are easy to transport, gives
profitable yield easy to take care of. It has also socio-economic importance like cheap labor,
market accessibility of construction material and production inputs as well as the peace and
order situation in the locality should be considered. Mud crabs have huge demand and high
value in the local and national market. With the availability of mud crab juveniles from the wild
throughout the year and the recent development in the hatchery technique thereof, there is a
strong indication that production of mud crab along with the milkfish in commercial farming
quantities could be more lucrative.
VIII. Objectives:
● To be knowledgeable enough about the strategies of farming mud crab and milkfish.
● To determine the market demand and possible yield of this proposal.
● To earn money for living and help others and give them work.
● To assess if my mud crab and milkfish production is feasible and sustainable in the long
years.
IX. Fishpond Layout
X. Methodology
A. Fishpond Construction Procedures:
Compartment for mud crab should range in size from ¼ to 1hectare in order to be
manageable. Preferably, they should be rectangular in shape and positioned in series with a
supply drain canal. Each compartment should be provided with about 12 earthen mounds
(5m) installed strategic areas of the pond. This mound s serves as breathing spot where mud
crabs could climb during times of low oxygen tension. Sawed bamboos or used PVC pipes (50cm
long with 15cm diameter opening both ends) may be added to serve as hides/shelter to avoid
mortality due to fighting and cannibalism. Used tires, stacked and tied up in layers and wooden
or bamboo platform are utilized as substitute for earthen mounds. These should be installed in
the middle of the pond high enough so that the peaks remain above water even when
maximum depth of 60 to 80 is reached. (Fig1)
To prevent the crabs from escaping, the area should be fenced in by nylon net (1-2cm
mesh size) extending about 30cm above the waterline. The nets should be supported vertically
with bamboo post horizontally with bamboo splits and imbedded about 50-30 cm along the
base of the dike. (Fig 2) Plastic strip sheet of about 50 cm wide should be installed along the top
edge of the net fence to prevent mud crabs from climbing over the top.
B. Stocking Procedures:
Newly arrived mud crab juveniles in mono size or mixed sized group are normally
contained in palm basket (bayong) or bamboo wicket basket (bukag). About 300-500 juveniles
untied or tied pincers. Fronds of pagatpat are provided inside the basket to cool and to
minimize fighting among crabs. Stocking may be done early in the morning or late in the
afternoon preferably in night when temperature is cool.
C. Cultural Practices
C.1. Site Selection- A typical brackish water pond designed for the culture of milkfish or
shrimp can be used for farming of mud crab. Enclosed areas of newly or partially developed
fishponds provided with water control structures could also serve the purpose to some extent.
This will somehow reduce initial expenditure required during the course establishment
involving extensive renovation of pond bottom. Soil type must be sandy clay or loam with rich
organic matter base and preferably alkaline.
C.2. Source of Juveniles-Mud crab juveniles’ 10 to 40 g or 5 to 20 cm carapace breadth
are available throughout the year with the peak during the month of May to September. They
are caught in sizable quantities together with marketable size crabs in marshlands and
estuarine areas. Depending in size, quantity, sex and species, cab seeds are available to the
farmer through the advance notice made to the collectors. This will give ample time for
collection, handling storage, and transport. Mud crab for farming about 5 to 10 pieces to a kilo
maybe available also in local markets at relatively, lower price. In ponds this will take only a few
culture days to grow too much bigger and or marketable size.
C.3. Pond Preparation-Since by nature the species is a scavenger, growing mud crab’s
aloe do not require meticulous pond preparation involving the propagation of natural food.
Along with the milkfish however, the plankton or deep-water natural food is advisable. The
plankton method has several advantages like; 1. lead time in preparing the pond is short,
hereby minimizing the production cost, 2 plankton grows over wide range of salinity and 3.
carrying capacity is greater because of more water volumes.
C.4. Stocking of Juveniles- In stocking, newly arrived mud crabs juveniles in mono size
or mixed size group are normally contained in bakag measuring 40 cm high and 50 cm diameter
mouth opening. About 300-500 juveniles are placed in each basket. During stocking tied pincers
are feed and crabs are released directly into strategic areas of the pond at density of 5,000 to
10,000 juveniles per hectare in combinations with 2000 to 2500 milkfish fingerlings (10 to 15g).
C.5. Care of Pond and Stocks-After stocking, it is essential to maintain good water
favorable both to mud crabs and milkfish. They were observed to grow faster at water
temperature between 23-32 degree centigrade and salinity of not more than 40 ppt. When
mud crabs start to crawl of top of the earthen mounds or cling to the bamboo fence it is an
indication that water condition is not favorable. It is advisable therefore to change at least 1/3
of pond water change is needed during spring tide. An irrigation pump maybe necessary in case
water change is needed during neap tide. Dikes, gates and net fence should be regularly
inspected for possible leakages and dilapidation.
C. 6. Feeds and Feeding and Fertilization-When fed with finely chopped trash fish or
frozen. Animal entrails or hides maybe given to augment the protein source other than those
derived from trash fish. Trash fish maybe chopped, dried and stored. However soaking dries
trash fish in water before feeding id advisable to prevent from floating feeds to go
unnecessarily on sizes or corners of the dike if scattered in the pond. Feeding is done by
broadcasting. Likewise, to maintain good growth of plankton for milkfish, it is recommended
that one bag of 16-20-0 be applied in a platform, subsequently every 15 days. If plankton
visibility is less than 15cm meaning there is excessively abundant, stop fertilization and replace
about 1/3 of pond. Re apply fertilizer if water becomes clear. Filamentous-green algae or lumut
when readily available in relative quantity, may be given as feeds to crabs.
C.7. Harvest- Total harvest/Total drainage
This is way of including mud crabs and milkfish to swim against the current by the
so called ‘’pasulang’’ method. The pond is partially drained 50% during low tide and at high tide
new seawater is admitted thereby causing the stock to swim against the current towards the
catching pond. Together with milkfish, bigger size and fatter crabs with females having
maturing eggs or aligue are caught. While swimming against the current and concentrating
along the gate, the crabs are caught with scoop nets and the pincers are then securely tied
using strips of coconut sheath (suwak) plastic straw. The remaining crabs, milkfish and other
saleable species left in the pond are collected by total drainage. Normally, this lasts a day or
two. For mud crabs there are 630 kgs harvested per hectare and 600 kgs for milkfish.
D. Natural feeds /Artificial feeds:
Crabs do not need manufactured feeds. There are natural feeds – chopped trash
fish, animal hide, and snails. You can feed your crabs with low cost trash fish, lumut or animal
innards or entrails.
For milkfish are as follows:
➢ Fry mash
➢ Starter mash
➢ Grower
➢ Finisher mash
E. Methods of Harvesting
Total harvest/total drainage -The pond is partially drained 50% during low tide and
at high tide new seawater is admitted thereby causing the stock to swim against the current
towards the catching pond. Together with milkfish, bigger size and fatter crabs with females
having maturing eggs or aligue are caught. While swimming against the current and
concentrating along the gate, the crabs are caught with scoop nets and the pincers are then
securely tied using strips of coconut sheath (suwak) plastic straw.
XI Assumption
1. Stocking fingerlings and juveniles: 15,000 pcs and 7500 pcs fry
2. Current price of fingerlings: Php 3.00 each for fingerlings and Php 6.00 each for
juveniles
3. Growing period/ Number Of days: 4 months
4. Estimated average on individual weight in grams after harvest: 250 grams for crabs and 250 grams
for milkfish
5. Total number of kilograms harvested: For mud crabs there are 630 kgs and 600 kgs for milkfish.
6. Current stock price per kilo in the market: Php 250.00 for crabs
Php 120.00 for milkfish
7.Mortality Rate: 10%
XII Budgetary Expenses
A. Costs (P)
A. Fixed Cost Php
● License /Taxes/Fees 6,000.00
● Land Rental/Lease 5,000.00
● Total Fixed Cost 11,000.00
B. Variable Cost
a. Fingerlings Php 3.00 each x 7,500 pieces 22,500.00
Php 6.00 each x 15,000 pieces 90,000.00
b. Feeds
➢ For crabs
▪ Trash fish or entrails
(25/kilo x 100 kilos) 2500.00
➢ For milkfish
▪ Fry mash (6 sacks x
500.00 /sack) 3,000.00
▪ Starter mash (7 sacks
x 800.00/sack) 5,600.00
▪ Grower (8 sacks x
950.00/sack) 7,600.00
▪ Finisher (8 sacks x
1050.00/sack) 8,400.00
c. Hired Labor (15 days x200 /day x 5 persons) 15,000.00
d. Caretaker (120 days x 200/day x 2 persons) 48,000.00
e. Organic Fertilizer
➢ Dried chicken manure (70
sacks x750.00/ sack) 52,500.00
f. Inorganic Fertilizer
➢ Lime powder (40 sacks x
900.00/sack) 36,000.00
➢ T seed powder (20 sacks x
1000.00/sack) 20,000.00
g. Fuel/Transportation 3,000.00
h. Materials for pond construction
➢ Nails #3 (48.00 x 4 kilos) 192.00
➢ Nails #4 (50.00 x 3 kilos) 150.00
➢ Bamboo poles (50 pieces x
70.00 each) 3,500.00
➢ Polyethylene/nylon netting
(400m x80.00/m) 32,000.00
➢ Plastic (1 roll) 1,070.00
i. Interest on Loans 108,936.53
j. Total Variable cost 506,448.53
k. Over all budgetary Expenses 517,448.53
B. Cost and Return Php
1.Sales
1,046,250.00
✓ Crabs: 3,375kgsx 250= Php 843,750.00
✓ Milkfish:1,687.5kgsx 100= Php 202,500.00
2. Total of All Budgetary Expenses 517,448.53
3.Net Profit 528,801.47
C. Percent return on Investment
ROI= 558,801.47
517,448.53x 100 = 102.19% ROI
