Joelyn soldevilla biag

Making value Chains

Work for the Poor

Joelyn Soldevilla-Biag, SPPI

October 16, 2013

Aldaba Theater, University of the Philippines

Quezon City, Philippines

CONNECTING THE POOR TO VALUE CHAINS: A LOCAL EXPERIENCE

CONVERSATIONS ON VCD AND SSE

• Is the organizational expression of the Local Economy Development Program or LEDP

• Established on September 2, 2007, and registered

with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-government organization on September 17, 2007.

VISION: Economically and politically empowered men and women, unified by their spirituality (pagpapakatao), in the rural communities of Samar Island.

MISSION: Advance the rural communities of samar island through sustainable local economy development, gender relations and participatory governance.

Five Pillars of Community-based Local Economy Development

1. Strong Community Organizations

2. Participatory Development Governance

3. Access to Markets and Finance (Livelihoods and Enterprise

Development)

4. Mainstreaming Gender

5. Ecological Sustainability

Where You Can Find Us

Our Story

• Fisherfolks in Northern Samar have been planting seaweeds since the late 90s.

• Theirs was a tale of constant “wash-out” and a “now you see me, now you don’t buyer.”

• In 2008, when we partnered with the Municipality of Capul for our LED program, there were two “on-off” seaweed farmers.

• In 2009, ICCO conducted a Seaweeds Value Chain Study.

Our Story

• The findings were not that optimistic…

• Then during the validation of the study, Mr. Maximo Ricohermoso, President and CEO of MCPI, went to Northern Samar and posed a challenge – “Give us 20 tons dried seaweeds per month and we will put up a processing plant in the Province.”

• With the assurance of a market, the groups’ interest heightened.

• We started having meetings with ICCO’s Value Chain Facilitator…

PROCESS/ FUNCTION CONCERNS AGREEMENT

MARKETING

current market: MCPI, Cebu requires 20 tons a month Expansion in production

LOCAL CONSOLIDATION In barangays (local consolidators are PO members)

quality free from foreign matters like straw, sand, etc

traceability labels/tags on sacks

number coding

price depends on prevailing market price

payment COD to farmers

DRYING technology Hanging, platforms

HARVESTING 30-45 days

PRODUCTION/FARMING technology Single floating long line

No. of meters/line 35 meters x 14 lines per farmer; 250 gms per clip

Basic requirements

LGUs a Coastal Resource Use map indicating areas

designated as seaweed farming zones

Farmers membership in a registered fisherfolk

organization in the municipality where the

nursery is to be located; production plan

SEEDLINGS variety cotonii

(spinosum may also be planted)

quality free from diseases

source Nurseries in Capul , BFAR

We went on Study Tours

We conducted Provincial Seaweeds Conferences

Our membership expanded…

As well as our Value Chain activities…

Sea-based Seaweed Nursery

THE SEAWEEDS INDUSTRY VALUE CHAIN

HOW DO WE CONCRETIZE SOCIAL SOLIDARITY ECONOMY

Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) refers to a broad range of

organizations involved in varying forms of cooperative,

associative and solidarity relations

SAMAR ISLAND SEAWEEDS VALUE CHAIN NETWORK (SEAWEEDS NET)

Members:

Seaweed Farmers NGOs

Local Government Units (Municipal Agriculturists, Fishery Technicians)

Academe – University of Eastern Philippines Fishery Department

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Philippine National Police (PNP)

Provincial Government Environment & Natural Resources Office (PGENRO)

Partners: Office of the Provincial Governor, MCPI, DISOP

and ICCO

Social Solidarity Economy refers to a broad range of organizations that have

explicit economic and social (and often environmental)

objectives.

Before I started planting seaweeds, I was doing compressor fishing. I started with compressor fishing in 1984. I would fish even in the sanctuaries. I was good at compressor fishing, and was able to go to different places because of it. The farthest I have gone to was in the province of Palawan. I started planting seaweeds in 2005. MODE, an NGO, came in our barangay. We were able to establish a livelihood organization, and I was chosen as president. We were able to learn about seaweed farming. Since then, and because of the plea of my children, I have stopped with compressor fishing and tried farming seaweed instead. I started with 4 lines with 35 meter lines. After the 1st grafting, my lines increased to 12, and after the 2nd grafting, my lines became 20.

Mr. Illuminado “Berting” Igloso

Jubang United Farmers and Fisherfolks

Association, Inc. (JUFFA) Barangay Jubang,

Capul Island Northern Samar,

Philippines

We planted seaweeds then, but the problem was there was no market for it. A typhoon came and our seedlings were affected. Our seaweeds got destroyed. Despite this, we still continued planting. When SPPI came in 2010, the seaweed trade became better. There is now a market for the seaweeds, and we are also taught technologies in planting seaweed. We are excited to plant because there are now protocols and procedures. I was also able to apply for a loan from our livelihood association to buy a boat. On February 2011, I was able to sell 625 kilograms of seedlings. On March, May, and October 2012, I was able to sell 200, 300, and 655 kilograms of seaweed seedlings to interested farmers from other POs (people’s organizations). I was able to earn a total of more than P25, 000 from seaweed farming. Seaweed farming has helped me a lot. I stopped with compressor fishing. I am now busy planting in the sea or going to the farm. If we do not have money to buy even rice, we sell our dried seaweeds and get money from there. If my daughter who’s studying in Manila does not have enough money, I am able to send her some which I get from seaweed farming. Seaweed farming has greatly helped me and my family.

Social Solidarity Economy fosters economic dynamism. Social and environmental protection and socio-political empowerment.

1. The Seaweeds net is a venue for:

a. A conducive environment for seaweed industry/chain to grow.

b. A full integration, relevant, active productive and equitable participation of women and men in the value chain.

2. It aims to:

a. Increase income of households/farmers through the seaweeds VC

b. Nurture and protect the environment. c. Participate in governance.

How to run a profitable business: Farmers,

Consolidators, SPPI

See Results Chain…

MARAMING PONG SALAMAT

THANK YOU