Seaweed supply at risk

A PROLONGED dry spell also poses a threat to the local production of seaweed, a major industry player said.

“If the El Niño problem will continue, production and prices of seaweeds will be most likely affected,” said Shemberg Manufacturing Corp. (SMC) president Benson Dakay in a phone interview yesterday.

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Dakay told Sun.Star Cebu the dry spell the country struggles with is similar to that of Indonesia in September last year.

“We are expecting the same effects, like insufficient supply of seaweeds. Too much heat can hamper the seaweeds’ growth,” Dakay said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa) expects the dry spell, while a moderate one, to last until July. The Department of Agriculture has realigned P1.2 billion from its regular budget to finance mitigation measures.

“What the sector can actually do now is to import seaweeds from other countries like Indonesia,” Dakay said.

Last year, Dakay reported that the Philippines produced 70,000 metric tons of seaweed while Indonesia produced about 90,000 metric tons. Indonesia can produce 110,000 metric tons this year, now that the country has recovered from its dry spell.

The Philippines can also import seaweeds from Vietnam and Cambodia.

“We normally import 20,000 metric tons but this will increase if the dry spell is prolonged,” he said.

So far, insufficient supply has caused prices of seaweeds to go up. Dakay said the buying price spiked from P65 per kilo to P80 per kilo, but could keep rising if the dry spell continues.

Carrageenan, a seaweed extract, is used in the manufacture of toothpaste, ice cream, some dairy products, shampoo and cosmetic creams, among others. The Philippines is considered the largest producer of carrageenan worldwide.