Department of Agriculture seeking to reverse decline in seaweed output

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to draft a road map to boost the country’s production of seaweed by 5% a year starting this year.

The agency said that the target is based on a large and increasing demand for seaweed in certain countries.

“This will prepare farmers for the global market,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol was quoted as saying in a DA statement released Wednesday

The road map intends to list all the programs the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) needs to launch to establish a sustainable and competitive seaweed industry.

“BFAR aims to increase seaweed production by at least 5% annually from 2017-2022,” said BFAR’s National Seaweed Coordinator Irma F. Ortiz in the statement.

Last year, seaweed production declined 10.83% to 1.40 million tons, according to the data from the bureau.

Total value of seaweed sales dropped to P6.1 million, down 26.68%.

Mr. Ortiz added that the road map will aim to revive the country’s rank as the world’s top producer of seaweed varieties such as Euchema and Kappaphycus.

In attaining their targets, he said the agency will have to resolve issues holding the industry back, limited access to funds and markets, limited sources of alternative income from seaweed, research and development into seaweed applications, promotion of available seaweed products, and lack of sustainable and climate- proof agri- fishery facilities.

BFAR has implemented various programs for seaweed production to educate farmers on climate- resilient species and entrepreneurship.

Mr. Piñol also recommended that BFAR list in the road map ways for the government to utilize and benefit from idle fish ponds and to strengthen efforts to establish a processing facility in the country

On March 30, the official met with Ocean Harvest Technology Ltd. ( OHT), an Irelandbased company that specializes in applying technology to ocean resources such as seaweed.

The firm’s Quality and Resource Manager Dr. Simon Faulker proposed to develop and commercialize ulva, also known as sea lettuce, in the country for processing into animal feed.

The company has visited Cebu, Bohol, Pampanga and Tawi-Tawi January to explore the potential of harvesting ulva in these provinces.

“Ulva is considered nuisance but it is good source of minerals and vitamins, which is good in making animal feeds,” Mr. Faulkner added.

If approved, the company will purchase about 3,000 tons of dried seaweed in the country which will be processed at a facility in Vietnam.

The by-products are marketed in some parts of the US and Canada.

According to the DA, ulva can be found in many areas of Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Norte. —