Synergizing Capacities and Mobilizing Resources for Seaweed Farming

SYNERGIZING CAPACITIES AND MOBILIZING RESOURCES FOR SEAWEED FARMING SEAWEED NURSERIES/FARMING IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TAYTAY, PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES With the constant support from the partner agencies, the Taytay Palawan Seaweed Farmers Federation becomes active in project-related activities. They continued to innovate and/or experiment more effective methods of planting seaweeds. During the last quarter of 2014, production stopped due to damaged caused by typhoon Queenie but the federation were able to managed the destruction and started to re-established their farm through the assistance of the Local Government Unit of Taytay, DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program and the Coral Triangle Initiative, a ADB funded project in the municipality.

The value of saving is gradually becoming a pattern of living for the seaweed farmers. They are now beginning to save portions of their income from selling their produce. Since they also maintaining group seaweed farms the profit sharing also contributed much to their present income. The term of sharing is 70-25-5, 70% of the net income were equally divided to members, 25% goes to the association as operational fund and 5% for the federation.

Members of the association realize the value of smooth inter-personal relationships.

Volunteerism is also being cultivated to protect the products of seaweed farmers. Majority are willing to become seaweeds ‘police’ to keep watch of their crops night and day and there is growing awareness and appreciation among the members about the relationship of environmental protection and seaweeds production. They actively participated in the mangrove rehabilitation project initiated by the Coral Triangle Initiative, DSWD-SLP and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Seaweed farming is one of the promising livelihood options that is environmentally sustainable and with a product that has global demand. Given the appropriate logistical and institutional support, seaweed farming may become a profitable enterprise in the municipality of Taytay. Therefore, it has a relatively high potential for replication.