Executive Summary
The Philippines used to be the star of agriculture in Asia, in terms of farming methodologies. Some Southeast Asian countries acknowledged that they did acquire the scientific know-how on how to successfully grow and manage crops, especially rice production, and this method did contribute to their recent agriculture successes and this even raised their respective countries’ economy rise.
However, nowadays, the Philippine government agencies such as, Department of Finance DOF, Department of Agriculture DA, Office of the President OP, Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas BSP, Philippine Statistics Authority PSA, and others, all reported a positive outlook on all other economic contributors except the Agriculture industry which is going on the opposite direction.
Finance Undersecretary, Karl Kendrick Chua, In a national newspaper column He iterated, “Population growth is 1 percent every year, that is two million additional Filipinos, so agriculture has to grow by at least 1.6 percent, preferably 2 percent or more, otherwise we cannot feed our own people and we will be relying on imports and the price will go up.” Chua said during a panel discussion on Wednesday.
Take note, for the past succeeding years, the production of crops has consistently dropped, and Mr. Chua explained, there is a need to grow by at least 1.6% but preferably 2% or more. Meaning, that aside from the new target which is to grow by 1.6% the least, there is also the need to recover the percentage loss bracket before we can even hit our target. Not to consider other concurrent difficulties such as, declining agricultural spaces mostly due to real estate and industrialization land conversion, fast mortality of original family of farmers and the negativity of the new generation when it comes to farming profession, lesser government intervention and the hindrances and difficulties of the farm to market road networks, plus the financing and market challenges.
Our current solution to this problem is easily cling on to importation which if unregulated, would cause disruption on local production prices and eventually adds up to the ongoing problem. Not to mention, that this food production decline is not limited to the Philippines but is clearly more vivid in the entire world. It is already the talk of world summits, “How can we feed 10 billion people by 2050?”
BNCGI has a Solution
This project for the establishment of Engineered Commercial Aquaponics Climate-Controlled Automated Systems (EC-ACCAS) is designed to be financially profitable, technically feasible and good for investors, customers, staff and internal employees, and the community at large, as well addressing climate change and protecting the environment.
This project development is our commitment and contribution as a company to help the Dept. of Agriculture in increasing crop production in the Philippines from its declining growth. Aside from crop production, BNCGI can help with DA’s call in encouraging the youth to learn farming. BNCGI will introduce Aquaponics, the modern way of farming, to the Filipino youth by offering BS in Aquaponics Engineering through its Technological Center in the near future as it’s a personal mission by our President, Dr. Cornelio G. Duaso who is a practicing Dean of the College of Engineering.
The Bees Nest Consulting Group Inc. (BNCGI) is a private business consulting group engaged in engineering, technology, education, high tech farming, and marketing. The company specializes on designing and building aquaponics system.
The Company Mission
Our mission is to grow exponentially as innovative agripreneurs. We have realized that local food production is a profitable venture and that food-safety and availability is equally important;
To develop commercially-viable aquaponic systems for all applications, based on science and technology with proven fish-to-plant ratios and water flow dynamics;
To allow a grower to supply fresh, local, premium quality vegetables and fish all-year-round;
And to fill a niche market for premium quality crops or raw materials or it can provide staples for a community in a developing country and more importantly focusing on economies of scale.
The Project Description
Commercial aquaponics system was primarily designed by a group of engineers and consultants to make it profitable and sustainable. A commercial aquaponic system technology is a scientific and engineered method of food production that combines conventional agricultural practices of rearing aquatic animals in tanks and growing of plants in water devoid of soil.
One of this project’s target is to partner both private and public organizations, academes and institutions. As of this making, the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers- Cebu Central Chapter PSME-CCC, has ink an agreement to convey their full support in developing the technology and BNCGI will course through all engineering manpower through the organization.
The BNCGI Project Development Agenda
(DOST Project Standards)
- Health and Nutrition
- Water and Sanitation
- Basic Education and Literacy
- Livelihood / Economic Enterprise Development
- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Target Location
Our ideal size for a one farm facility with 10 builds would be a minimum of three hectares lands depending on the length and width of the proposed lot. And we are targeting to build at least three farms that will serve our second purpose that it will be our back-to-back research facility to conduct scientific and engineering studies for the system, the plants, the fish and other important aspects that need extensive data analysis which will be the basis for the next generation of Aquaponics Systems.
A private partner has proposed his seventy-two (72) hectares of land somewhere in the outskirts of Cebu City which is quite a hit to our agenda to locate a land nearby the city so to cut expensive time from travelling longer distances. Which if research facility is located somewhere nearer, we can be more productive and fast changing innovations.
Likewise, we have targeted a ten (10) hectare land in Brgy. Cantipla, Cebu, expandable to twenty-four (24) hectares which makes it commercially viable and matches our expectations. With proper site development planning and work timeline, the farm can be installed as it was envisioned.
The Technical Feasibility
The commercial aquaponics system design covers an area of 2,660 square meters with the dimensions of 140 meters length and 19 meters width for the greenhouse building. Inside the greenhouse building it contains floating beds, media beds, wicking beds, fish tanks, sump tanks, header tanks, mineralization tanks, pumps, piping systems and others that are arranged according to the setup which our engineering team calls it as Nodes, in order to complete one AP system.
The Financial Analysis and Projections
A single Aquaponics farm has an area of 3 hectares and will have 10 greenhouse buildings. The size of one building is 140 meters in length and 19 meters wide.
This sales forecast is using the data below for a single building:
| Type of Crop | Lettuce |
| Conservative Selling Price | P200/kilo (Organic) |
| Number of Heads to make 1 kilo | 3 Lettuce Heads |
| Days to Harvest | 28 Days |
| Total number of Lettuce Heads in 1 Building | 27,000 Heads |
| Expected Monthly Harvest in 1 Building | 9,000 Kilos |
Sales Projection Per Annum Per Building
Payback Period
The Managerial Strategy
Bees Nest Consulting Group Inc. (BNCGI) was organized and managed by a dynamic and versatile management team, headed by six experts from various fields of specialization synergized through knowledge, skills, and passion and envisioned on providing quality services and produce to our clients, to wit:
- Mr. Kim E. Torrequemada as the CEO/Chairman of the Board
- Atty. Emmanuel Lim-Tampos as Vice President for Legal Affairs/Chief Finance Officer/Treasurer
- Mr. Marco Velasco as Vice President for Investment/Assistant Treasurer
- Mr. Ray Paulo Letigio as Vice President for Marketing/Corp. Secretary
The Marketing Strategy
Most of these businesses were created by entrepreneurs who envisioned an opportunity to establish a commercial aquaponics here in the Philippines and pursed that vision in search of independence and financial reward. The marketing and management skills plays a vital role in the operation.
Marketing Goals
- To build BNCGI brand as the first implementor of Commercial Aquaponics System in the Philippines.
- To build an image as a Trusted supplier of High-Quality Aquaponics System materials/parts.
- To build an image as a reliable business partner of the masses to entrust their hard-earned money to BNCGI and use it to build Smart Greenhouses across the nation.
- To build a successful relationship between BNCGI and the people of the community and together promotes organic and hi-tech farming methods toward a sustainable agriculture practice.
Marketing Strategies
- Direct Marketing
- Satellite Marketing
- Online/Digital Marketing
The Market
The National Government and the Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Statistics Authority, will present and had presented past and current Performances of Philippine Agriculture Industry. Refer to PSA website.
The Philippine government has acknowledged the deficit downward trend of the statistics of Philippine Agriculture, particularly in the production of crops. This downfall has been consistent for the past years and that all concerned government agencies has already expressed their opinion about the matter and given advices such as the one below from the Usec of the Department of Finance Mr. Kendrick Chua.
A global concern, ‘Global Food Crisis.’
The Duterte administration has expressed its high-priority support and implementation of educational awareness, funding propositions, infrastructure build-build-build programs. Through the new DA chief, will be implementing more strategies in order to start recovering from such supply deficits.
BNCGI EC-ACCAS Innovations
The Bees Nest Consulting Group Inc. with its engineers, came up with its own proprietary Aquaponics system design that would synergize and totally fit in the Philippine setting, climate and land conditions. Making sure that it also complies with all local regulations as well as the people and local working conditions.
Once fully implemented, BNCGI will apply for a trademark and copyright for the said technology.
The first design will be labelled as EC-ACCAS (1st Gen). while further research, improvements and innovations are on-going and will be applied to the next implemented systems whenever necessary.
Future Plans
The Bees Nest Consulting Group Inc. (BNCGI) envisions an ambitious mid-term to long term target on building an ECONOMIC ZONE which will start in Cebu then spread nationwide to produce quality food and purely free from chemicals and synthetic fertilizers, and create more jobs for the community.
To sustain and maintain the technology used, the BNCGI will put up a Professional Training Center for the in-house training of our personnel specifically engineers, technicians, technologists, and staff as well as outsiders who are willing to venture into Aquaponics Technology. Aside from the Professional Training Center, the Bees Nest Consulting Group Inc. (BNCGI) will offer COLLEGE PROGRAMS in the near future that will cater the needs of the company.