Intense summer heat boosts salt industry
LINGAYEN—The intense summer heat is boon to salt industry of Pangasinan but detrimental to fishponds.
Maximo Abesamis, 78, a major player in both salt and bangus industry for decades in western part of Pangasinan, said the longer the hot, dry season, more salt can be produced.
“But the minute it suddenly rains, you will have no production,” he said.
“The problem with salt is, if there is over-production, farmers do not have money because price is low,” he pointed out. One sack of salt of about 50 to 60 kilos costs about P190.
Abesamis said unlike other food items, where one would consume more if price is low, it’s not the same for salt “because salt consumption must be balanced.”
“If you need a tablespoon of salt in your food, you don’t just add another tablespoon,” he quipped.
Pangasinan’s salt industry thrives in western part of the province and name is derived from the word “asinan”, which means where salt is made.
On the other hand, summer heat is detrimental to fishpond industry, Abesamis, a bangus fishpond owner himself said.
“Kasi yung lablab, parang nasusunog (Because the algae seem burned),” Abesamis said, referring to the natural fish food grown in fishponds.
Abesamis said the fish eat the algae if it’s soft but when it’s hot, the algae becomes hard.
He said bangus production is also affected by climate change. “Maybe production will only be around 25 percent of the normal level,” he added.
Abesamis said fish cages are not affected by climate change but he added that fingerlings come from fishponds.
“So the production of fingerlings indirectly affects fish cages because deficiency of supply arises,” Abesamis added.
He said right now, only 50 percent of the fish cages, particularly in Sual, Alaminos City and Anda have bangus stocks for culture. (Tita Roces)
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