New method of growing seaweeds developed

There’s a new way of growing seaweeds.

Called Triangular Method (TM), it was developed by the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit 9 (DA-RFU-9). It is a modified form of the current farmer’s practice known as floating long method.

Said S. Kalbi of the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Region 9 based in Zamboanga City discussed the technology at the Second Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum organized recently by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). The forum, wherein nine mature technologies were presented, marked the observance of BAR’s 18th anniversary.

The new productive and environment-friendly aquaculture system uses polyethylene rope #12 as cultivation line fixed five meters from the bottom of the seacoast through a wooden stake embedded firmly to the seabed. A rope of smaller size (#7) is used to construct a triangle.

A float using float ball or empty plastic container is provided at the triangle’s tips to add more buoyancy. The seedlings are planted at the sides of the triangles at 30 centimeters apart.

"The technology can accommodate 100,000 to 150,000 seedlings per hectare," Kalbi said.

In the study, the TM and two other methods – multiple and bottom stake – were tried.

The triangular method realized a net profit of P65,750 per cropping (45 days) with a return on investment (ROI) of 52 percent. The two other methods incurred losses in the initial cropping.

"The technology has great impact on the seaweed industry," Kalbi averred.

Seaweed farmers can opt for higher densities per unit area. This entails low production cost provides higher return of investment.

Kalbi concluded: "Triangular method of farming seaweed fits very well into the traditional and cultural values of the country’s coastal inhabitants. With good management organization, rural folk and even the urban poor can make a "treasure hunt ‘of the gift of the sea." – Rudy A. Fernandez