Gov’t urged to support salt farmers’ iodization efforts

A farmers’ group on Friday urged the government to provide more support for the country’s small salt farmers as some salt producers have already gone out of their way to upgrade their technology for iodization.

In a television interview, Philippine Association of Salt Industry Networks president Gerard Khonghun said that some small salt producers could not catch up to changes in the industry.

“It’s not just technology or equipment or training; it also involves some changes in distribution,” Khonghun said.

“Since it costs more you would have to have the consumer want to buy more expensive salt so that they could get proper iodine in their salt,” he explained.

“I think this is where we need more support for the small salt farmers,” he added.

There is a need to see the benefits of iodization not just for the public but also for the salt farmers’ own businesses; more incentives in this area, and I think more direct assistance is called for.

Establishment of cooperatives

Khonghun said that there had been talks about the establishment of cooperatives that would assist producers unable to iodize their salt. Unfortunately, he said this did not materialize.

He said he believes that salt farmers should take the initiative if they want to create cooperatives.

“I think we can do better this time around,” he said.

“They need to see the benefits of iodization not just for the public but also for their own business. More incentives in this area, and I think more direct assistance are called for,” Khonghun said.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DTI DEVELOPMENT and Trade Policy Group Assistant Secretary Allan Gepty (2nd from left) of the Department of Trade and Industry joins the recent 1st Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials in Semarang, Indonesia, to discuss ways on how the region attain economic recovery, digital transformation, and sustainable economic growth.