Davao Oriental to push salt production in coastal areas


DAVAO CITY -- The provincial government of Davao Oriental will encourage communities along its coastlines to produce salt for all the fertilizer needs of coconut farmers. That way, it will no longer rely on handouts, which can be grossly insufficient for their requirements, Davao Oriental Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon said.


Salt Production Plant by the Side of Evaporation Ponds, San Francisco Bay Area, California
photo from squidoo


"We have the longest coastline in the country. Hopefully we can be given assistance not just with coconut but also salt production," she said. 

Initially, the provincial government will start small and tap women associations in Mati City and the municipalities of Tarragona and San Isidro. Once all the kinks in the program are ironed out, the project will be replicated in other communities.

A series of tests by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) from 1991-1997 proved the effectiveness of salt after fertilizing 170,000 hectares of coconut farms nationwide. All coconut farms covered by the experiment hiked output by 125%.

Roel M. Rosales, deputy administrator of the PCA, said the government has an existing assistance program for coastal communities to produce salt. Although he failed to mention the amount, he said any local government unit can shoulder the small investment for the drying beds, vats, and straw baskets.

link from BUSINESS WORLD ONLINE
Davao Oriental to push salt production in coastal areas Davao Oriental to push salt production in coastal areas Reviewed by Amaya Chika on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Rating: 5

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