The simplicity of catfish farming makes it a viable source of income and food for rural households that are willing to stick it out for three to five months during which the native catfish can reach 80 to 150 grams and are ready to be sold. Based on computations by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in 2017, a 1,000-square meter pond stocked with 10,000 fingerlings can yield 770 kilograms of catfish and net a farmer P22,971 in profits with an 80 percent return of investment. The African catfish (Claria gariepinus), also grown in the Philippines, can grow to larger sizes, but SEAFDEC says this exotic species has been outcompeting the more palatable native catfish in the natural environment.

Dianala, R. D., & Ledesma, R. H. (2020, January 18). Backyard catfish farming, an accessible source of income for Filipinos. Panay News, p. 9.