Seaweed Farming - Part 2

GOOD Morning to you all again, time seems to roll bye very quickly these days. There are some thing that God cannot do. For example, God cannot tell a lie. He can't do anything that conflicts with his holy character. What God is determines what God doe's since he is holy, all his attributes share in that perfection. Let me explain what this means to us on a practical level. As a holy God, he is perfect in his righteousness, justice, truthfulness and faithfulness. His perfect righteousness assures us that we can fully yield to his will because he will always do what is right. In Genesis 18-25 we read-small not the judge of all the earth do right? His perfect justice means that God will be unquestionably always fair. Christians will be rewarded for what they have done, and the wicked will be punished according to their works.

Let pause for a moment: Holy, Holy, Holy! Though the darkness hide thee though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see, only thou art holy-there is none beside thee, perfect in power, in love and purity. The holiness of God convicts the sinner and comforts the saint.

Our topic: It all started with simple curiosity and before our subject this week knew it, He was hooked. This is the case with Mang Ramiro. Before engaging in seaweed farming he was into drift gill net, getting by and providing his family on a here subsistence level.

From his fellow fishermen, he learned about the potential of seaweed farming. He also learned about the LGU's project on seaweed and just tried his luck. He started seaweed farming in 2003. It was also during this time that he became one of the farmer-cooperators and was appointed chairman of the Seaweed Farmers and Traders Association (SFTA) in Dao, Pilar, Sorsogon. In 2005, the association grew from three to now 138 members, As farmer cooperator, Mang Ramiro was given materials for seaweed seeds as starters. So come on friends, If Mang Ramiro can do it, I'm sure our fishermen here in Tagbilaran can do it. For Mang Ramiro, the additional income that he would bring home to his family was his initial motivation for engaging in seaweed farming. He also believes in its potential to change the lives of his fellow fishermen. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) commercial production of seaweeds through farming is at present limited to a few countries in East Asia making it a high-value crop with a high demand in the world market. The Philippines is noted for the culture of seaweeds, particularly-Eucheuma and Caulerpa along with Japan , China , Korea and Taiwan .

In Pilar, Sorsogon, the most widely cultivated species of seaweed is the Kappaphycus Alvar E211- known before as Eucheuma Cottonh, due to its high marketability and demand compared to seaweeds like-K. Striatum or Saccul and Spinosum type now known as E. Denticulatum . When asked about the benefits, Mang Ramiro gets from seaweed farming, he said that in the Span of three years, aside from the boat and the materials he got as farmer-cooperator, his income has increased. Ramiro's own seaweed farm which measures – 50mx50m, earned him-P50,000 in 2003 when he harvested 900 kg of fresh seaweeds. This has helped him put his three children in school. Aside from seaweed farming, Ramiro continued to be a drift gill fisher for the additional income.

Since Mang Ramiro is a bonafide member of SFTA, pricing of his produce is not a problem. The Association also serves as a sure market outlet for him and other members. Like any endeavor. Mang Ramiro encountered some problems like typhoons. In 2005 for instance. He said that his income went down to P3,000 per harvest of 800kg of fresh seaweeds due to the erratic weather conditions. Since their seaweeds are cultivated in the shallow part of the sea, the fluctuation in the salinity of water needs also to be closely monitored because it affects the quality of the seaweeds. When Ramiro was asked why his harvest went down from 900 kg of seaweeds in 2003 to 600 kg last year, He explained that he gave some of the seeds to his colleagues so they too could start their own seaweed farming. What a friend. Although seaweed farming is not as demanding in terms of maintenance, Ramiro said that sometimes it becomes difficult for him since he doe's everything from planting to harvest. He regularly cleans the ropes (every 3 days) where the seaweeds are planted. He also doe's the delivery of the harvest to the market, He says he will continue to grow seaweed because it is a good source of income So there you have it friends another good idea. Take Care, see you next week..