By Celeste Anna Formoso
Palawan, The Philippines (PNA).- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved here a resolution urging municipal agriculture officers to promote and encourage the natural farming of seaweeds and avoid the use of fertilizers.
The measure, approved on Tuesday, was authored by Board Member Marivic Roxas, who claimed that a recent Seaweed Industry Summit she attended made it known that organically growing seaweeds is always better than using chemical substances to increase fertility.
“The summit held last March discussed that the use of fertilizers in seaweed farming may result to decreasing demand for export,” she said in an interview.
Roxas added that the practice of natural farming “must be strengthened” for Palawan to continue to produce high-quality seaweeds.
“Seaweeds are natural products, therefore, they should grow naturally without the need for any fertilizer, which may affect their natural components,” she added, claiming not using chemicals will also lessen their costs.
Roxas said municipal agriculture officials are in a better position to encourage seaweed growers to “go natural” since they are familiar with their farming practices.
