THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has poured some half-a-million pesos assistance to improve the livelihood of an association of seaweed growers in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
Jennifer Pidor, Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Science and Technology Center head, said in a statement that the beneficiary of the assistance is the Katipunan Vegetable and Agar-Agar Growers Association (KVAGA) in Sitio Katipunan, Magdaup village, Ipil, the province’s capital.
Pidor said the KVAGA, which has 30 active members, is also fortunate to be the beneficiary of the first seaweed floating dryer established in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
KVAGA, headed by Razma Gumapi as the association president, also received a seaweed nursery, fiber boat, and technology training from DOST, totaling the project cost to P500,000.
She said the dryer can accommodate 2,000 kilograms of fresh seaweeds and is equipped with solar power to support the lighting and exhaust fan for better air circulation.
Gumapi said the seaweed floating dryer is an innovative approach developed by Enginee. Ronel Pangan of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños funded by the DOST–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development to support the post-harvest needs of the seaweeds industry in the country.
She conveyed their appreciation to the DOST for the assistance given that will boost the livelihood association’s members.
Gumapi vowed to put to good use the seaweed floating device and other equipment given to them by the DOST. (SunStar Zamboanga)