Unpredictable extreme weather threatens salt production in Dasol
THE unexpected heavy rains amid the hot weather have caused major setbacks for local salt farmers in Dasol town.
In an interview with Edwin Tolete, president of the Dasol Saltmakers Association, he explained that the combination of excessive heat and sudden downpours have made it difficult to harvest salt efficiently.
“Hot weather is good for salt production, but when it’s too hot followed by rain, it disrupts everything. We harvest for a few days, and then the rains come, and we lose everything,” he said.
The situation this year has been particularly bad, with rainwater flooding salt beds and damaging harvests.
January to May is usually salt production period, but the weather disruptions have cut expected harvest by more than half.
“We started harvesting in November, hoping for a full season, but with the rains, we only have 40% of what we expected,” he said.
This means a significant income drop for the entire association, with over 200 members, from the usual P100,000 to P120,000 per season to only about P40,000, which will be spread thin to cover expenses.
In addition to the climate challenge, the salt industry is also facing fierce competition from imported salt, which is sold at a lower price. “Last year, we had up to 100,000 cavans of salt that we couldn’t sell because the imports were cheaper,” Tolete lamented.
The market for local salt has been shrinking, leaving many producers with unsold stock, further compounding their financial struggles.
Despite these challenges, Tolete remains hopeful that the new legislation aimed at regulating salt imports could provide some relief to local producers, underscoring the need to preserve the industry, not only for economic reasons but also for the cultural heritage it represents.
For more than 30 years, Tolete and his fellow salt-makers have depended on salt farming as their primary source of income. However, the rising costs of production, combined with the unpredictable weather and market conditions, have created an uncertain future for this vital industry in Pangasinan. (Eva Visperas)
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