PAGADIAN
CITY: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) is urging seaweed farmers in the region to develop their
farm size to increase production and meet demands, a new report reaching Philippine
Preview said.
BFAR
national seaweeds coordinator Isidro Velayo said their advice is also for farmers
to boost seaweed production and improve their quality of living.
Velayo
said small or inadequate farming size is the problem for farmers to see despite
the vast potential of seaweed production in the region.
Planting
five to 10 lines is a big difference than planting 200 to 300 lines of seaweeds,
Velayo explained, since large volume can command better price for the seaweeds.
But
farmers produce lesser and is not even enough for their needs, Velayo lamented.
To
address the situation, he stressed that Bfar
is laying plans to ease the plight of the farmers by extending seaweed
production support to existing farmers for farming area expansion.
These
include seedlings, soft tie and floaters, he added, giving farmers surplus
income that will uplift their living.
Farmers
should aim to expand their area since there are still vast coastal areas that
can be utilized in the region, BFAR said.
In
Zambo Norte, for example, the coastal area utilized for farming is only about
10 percent.
One
ton per harvest would be around P56,000 in 60 days, estimates Velayo, and three
or four cropping per year be around P224,000, enough for our farmers to have a
decent quality of life.
However,
BFAR reminded farmers to produce only quality seaweeds.