Seaweed farming drives growth in coastal towns

CEBU, Philippines - A local farmers’ group has expressed bright prospects for the seaweed industry in Bohol province which continues to be an economic driver in various coastal towns.

The Central Visayas Seaweeds Growers Association said seaweed farming has provided good income to many local fishermen in coastal towns.

“Naka-contribute gyod ni og dakong kaayuhan sa atong marginal fisher folks kay mao ni ilang gisaligan pagpaeskuyla sa ilang mga anak,” said Esteban Payusan, the association’s president.

Such livelihood has also discouraged illegal or dynamite fishing because such fishing activity destroys seaweed farms, he told The FREEMAN, saying this serves as an alternative source of income in the long-term.

Many have now shifted to seaweed planting which also generates profitable income to the locals aside from fishing alone, added Payusan, who is also business manager of Bohol Provincial Seaweeds Farmers and Producers Cooperative.

Bohol is the third largest seaweed producing province in the Philippines -- after Palawan and Tawi-tawi -- due to its many coastal barangays where fishing and sea farming exist.

Seaweed farmer Roy Rivera noted around 50 percent of municipalities in Bohol depend on this thriving livelihood activity.

Coastal municipality Bien Unido, located along the Danajon Double Barrier Reef, is a top seaweed producer in Bohol and Central Visayas. Other town producers include Talibon, Ubay and President Garcia.

“Ang wa man gud mahibaw-an sa kadaghanan nga daghan kaayong Boholanos especially the island residents ang nabuhi ani nga negosyo,” said Rivera, who is also seaweeds farm manager of MCPI Corp., a local carrageenan producer.

Farmers sell raw seaweeds to local processors which produce seaweed-based products such as carrageenan, agar, pickled seaweed and sun-dried seaweed. Some also supply the raw goods to public markets for local consumption. 

Dried seaweeds in the Philippines are exported to both local and foreign carrageenan manufacturers which process the goods into gelling agent. This is then used to produce industrial and consumer products.

Improvement

He pointed out farmers’ groups have still a lot of room to be more organized and educated on right seaweed growing procedures and quality seedlings.

In this way, they can produce high-quality seaweeds which make higher prices in the world market.

To be more productive and competitive, farmers need more support from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in terms of training and planting materials such as floaters, plastic twines, nylon ropes and seaweed seedlings.

The Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines said the country's vast coastal areas allow growers to cultivate more marine plants so it would not depend on importing raw materials from other seaweed producing countries like Indonesia.

SIAP chairman Maximo Ricohermoso stressed there is a growing domestic and international markets to serve which are expected to increase the industry's export revenues.

This blooming industry is currently valued at $200 million a year.  (FREEMAN)