BUTUAN CITY — Seaweed farmers here may soon increase production of their products with the completion of the Seaweed Solar Dryer and Storage Facility (SSDSF) in barangay New Mabuhay, Dinagat town, in Dinagat Islands.
Regional Public Information Office (RPIO) of the Department of Agriculture (DA 13) Emmylou T. Presilda told The Manila Bulletin on Wednesday the said seaweed facilities are funded by the DA – Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).
“This will help the New Mabuhay Seaweed Farmer and Fisherfolks Association (NMSFFA) increase the production of dried seaweeds from its members,” the region’s DA 13 information chief said of the project which is expected to be completed by December.
A Seaweeds Solar Drier, with a capacity of 7,500kg per batch, will improve the quality of raw dried seaweeds.
This will be coupled with a 3x6m storage warehouse with a capacity of 5mt and a motorized flatboat for hauling wet and dried seaweeds from the association members.
Aside from seaweed production, the subproject will also support the community-based enterprise, Ms. Presilda said.
This includes the proper handling and moving of seaweed commodities and enhance the post-harvest processing to increase the income of the farmers and the NMSFFA.
In year one, this project envisions to produce and market 109,209 kg of quality dried seaweeds as an added enterprise. It also aims to generate an income of P2.9 million for the enterprise and increase fisher household beneficiaries' income by 25%, from P73,863.64 to P92,350.77, Ms. Presilda added.