Cages are constructed with semi-rigid plastic mesh tied to steel hoops. The cage is
supported by 4 1" PVC pipes. Hoops are formed with a diameter of 3.5 ft. The mesh
size is determined by the minimum size of fish to be retained. Fry and fingerling
cages should have 1/4" and 1/2" mesh and production cages should have 3/4" mesh. The
cage is topped by a lid made of steel hardware cloth secured to a hoop. A demand feeder
is attached to the lid with its toggle bar extending into the cage. Styrofoam floats
are attached to the PVC pipes and the cage floats in the pond.
Cage Construction
Demand Feeder Construction
Farmers with existing ponds can deploy the cages with fingerlings at fixed intervals
and harvest each at the end of its production period. A consistent quantity of well
grown tilapia builds demand and market opportunities.
An economic analysis showed good potential for profitability.
