Monday, August 15, 2005
BIMP-Eaga taps coastal folks for seaweed farming
DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 Regional Director Merly Cruz said the BIMP-Eaga (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area) will tap those living along the shoreline to become seaweed producers of the entire economic cooperation.
Cruz said last week the Philippines, particularly Mindanao, being at the forefront in developing the seaweed industry, will form a core group in the region who will be developed as the lead growers of the champion commodity.
The economic cooperation, Cruz said, is eyeing the shoreline residents of Lukatan, Tarragona and Baganga, both in Davao Oriental, as the the first members of the core group.
If the core group can be considered as a successful, this will immediately be replicated in other coastal areas.
"We really have to get them as the seaweed growers kasi kapag nagtatanim ka nito, you really have to stay within the shoreline for you to tend to it. You can just imagine how many coastal dwellers will benefit from this. We'll be working closely with Bfar (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) and Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) in implementing the project," she said.
The BIMP-Eaga will provide the seaweed growers with the initial farm inputs, such as propagules.
To date, the only seaweed processing plant, Martson's, in the region has a volume requiment of 40 tons per day but the daily production of Region 11 is only pegged at an average of 10 tons.
Cruz said there is a vast opportunity for the industry to attain. In the world market, there is an increasing demand of five percent annually for eucheuma cottonii. Among the major markets of seaweed are the United States, China, and Europe. (JMM)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 15, 2005 issue)
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