Philippine Tambayan

Technotrends: Eucheuma farming:

 A better altenative

By: Thea Kristina Pabuayon

October 1999- Special issue , BAR Digest

The seaweed resource is one of the most important marine resources. Production of seaweed through culture is one of the most productive form of livelihood benefiting thousands of coastal inhabitants in the country today (Trono, Jr., 1997).

The country’s seaweed industry is presently the third ranking fishery industry. In 1996 alone, seaweed and seaweed products worth US$94 million were exported by the Philippines (Trono Jr., 1997). Local and international markets that include the United States, Japan, Latin America, Canada, and the neighboring Asian countries have and continually increased. However, the Philippines should put in mind that the need to further advance and exploit such valuable industry through research is still inevitable since most of our neighbors are catching up. In 1971, Eucheuma farming was instituted in the (Kappaphycus alvarezii/Eucheuma cottonii) are ‘carageenan ‘-bearing seaweed abundant in Philippine waters. Numerous food and industrial products such as binders, thickeners, and emulsifiers require ‘carageenan’ as a main ingredient.

Because of positive reports and outcomes, researches and Eucheuma culture spread to other farming systems and eventually, to the Mindanao areas where conditions are favorable for its farming.

One such research”, the study on “Eucheuma Farming in Selected Areas of Palawan”. The long coastline characteristic of Palawan made it ideal for seaweed farming. Researchers of the Inland Sea Ranching Station, a research Department of Agriculture based in Puerto Princesa City conceived and implemented the project in support to the Seaweed Development Program of the Local Government Unit of Palawan. Through this project, Palawan is envisioned to be a competent and world-class seaweed producer.

Potential areas of Palawan that can be utilized for Eucheuma farming were determined through multi-location testing. Through this, the transfer of Eucheuma to the different fishing communities of Palawan was made easy. Local Government Units, DA, and seaweed processors, provided seminars, training, technical assistance, and market links to the fisherfolk.

The study yielded several conclusions and findings that has proven Eucheuma technology beneficial to the fisherfolk of Palawan.

It was estimated that 50,000 families benefited from the technology. Palawan has also established itself as a prime seaweed producer, providing 142,000 Mt. Annually which amounts to 23% of the country’s total seaweed production.

After the utilization of seaweed farming, it was calculated that the income of fisherfolk largely increased by P31-33,000 per annum. This helped alleviate poverty and further establish seaweed farming as a beneficial and rewarding form of livelihood.

The possibility of generating high income from this technology has made it attractive as an alternative livelihood for fisherfolk. It has economic viability which means high income returns can be expected in spite of low capital input. As a result, the further degeneration and destruction of overexploited fishing grounds can now be prevented.

Seaweed farming can also be regarded as a solution to the persistent problem of un/underemployment and basically eliminates idle labor by providing opportunities for entrepreneurship and self-managed businesses. Because it will require a sizeable number of manpower, the whole family can participate and earn at the same time.

However, several problems have also been anticipated following the utilization of this technology. First, unregulated seaweed farming may affect the natural ecosystem when overcrowding occurs. Second, the proliferation of seaweed farms may also pose resource-users conflict (Abrera et al, 1998). Open fishing areas would be limited and could mean inadequate catch for fishermen. Nonetheless, these problems could be prevented if strict implementation of existing laws on regulation of seaweed farming will be followed.

The potential of eucheuma farming to improve the general status of countryside livelihood in the Philippines is clearly evident. It is therefore vital that more researches and studies be conducted to further develop and expand the utilization of this technology.

Eyebuds as planting materials
Thea Kristina Pabuayon 

October 1999 Special Issue, BAR Digest

Abaca is traditionally planted using suckers or corms. The use of seeds, although appropriate in breeding activities, is not practiced by farmers because abaca grown from seeds takes longer time to mature and to attain harvestable size. Furthermore, resulting plants may not possess the desired characteristics of the parents or are not “true to type” because abaca is highly cross-pollinated. There is also difficulty in germinating the seeds as well as taking care of the seedlings in the field.

This was revealed in a Terminal Report of FIDA Region VIII entitled “Germination and Growth of Eyebuds as Affected by Size and Depth of Planting,” which was authored by Porfirio B. Tafalla, Victor A. Romero and Agapito E. Cagabhion.

Tissue culture can mass-produce disease-free planting materials from a single parent material but requires much capital, sophisticated equipment and expertise. This method cannot be practiced by ordinary farmers in their respective localities.

The use of corms and suckers is simple and results in high germination and survival but these materials are bulky and costly in terms of labor and transport especially if the source is far from the planting site. Dividing the corms into seedpieces with two eyebuds each multiplies available planting materials from a single corm three or four times. Further dividing the corms into individual eyebuds was studied by Tafalla, et al. in 1992. It was found out that eyebuds are equally appropriate planting materials as seedpieces. They have similar germination and survival rate as seedpieces and have the advantage of being less bulky thereby reducing hauling and freight costs. More planting materials can be derived from each corm since eyebud is a planting material. Unlike in tissue culture, eyebud preparation is simple and can be easily adopted by farmers in their respective farms.

Steps in Eyebud Preparation and Field Planting:

• Select harvestable stalks that are easy to tumble down. Before tumbling down, remove the leaves with the use of a topping knife to avoid or minimize damage to nearby plants.
• Tumble down plants by pulling the stalks from side to side to loosen the roots. Plants with deeply embedded corms and roots are sources of eyebuds.
• Separate the corms from the stalks with the use of a sharp bolo. Pile the corms in a convenient place. Pile the stalks separately for tuxying later.
• Divide the corms into pieces measuring 5 cm x 5 cm to 7 cm x 7 cm. Each piece should have one prominent eye bud.
• Pile prepared eyebud in a shady place to avoid desiccation. Observe care in hauling and transporting eyebuds to avoid damage to the growing points.
• Prepare the land in the same way when corms or suckers are used. It should be done before the eyebuds are prepared. Plant theeyebuds within 1 week after preparation ensure high germination.
• Planting should be timed at the onset of the rainy season to ensure high germination and survival. Planting distance is 1m x 1m for nurseries and from 2m x 2m to 3m x 3m for planation depending on the size of the variety to be planted. Depth of planting is 2-6 cm and the eyebuds positioned with the growing tips pointing upward.
• All other activities like provision of shade trees, underbrushing, ringweeding, fertilizer application, etc are the same as in plants derived from corms, suckers, or seedpieces. Upon maturity, first harvest and succeeding harvests are the same as those planted using corms and seedpieces.

Butterfly farming

Butterfly farming is only one of the few businesses that is eco-friendly. To be able to establish such business one needs to plant trees and flowers that would attract or would serve as food for the butterfly.

Dome or Enclosure:
A big dome or enclosure is needed to start this business. This dome would encloses the trees and butterflies. It could be as simple as huge fishnet/mosquito net that will enclose the whole vicinity. The plant inside the dome is depends on the butterfly that one wants to breed. Every butterfly have a specific plant that it use as a host or use as their food.

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