SAMAR ISLAND SEAWEEDS VALUE CHAIN NETWORK (Seaweeds Net)

(Providing marginalized farmers &fisherfolks sustainable and nature-friendly alternative source of livelihood thereby stabilizing the supply

availability and quality of seaweed raw materials while earning substantial returns for their households.)

Capul

Biri

These are island municipalities in Northern Samar. Small fishers used to plant seaweeds here but they were faced with problems of unstable market & cases of ice-ice and epiphytes.

Seedlings used to come from Eastern Samar

ICCO commissioned Seaweeds Value Chain Study in 2009

MCPI Challenge: 20 tons/ month for a processing plant

In March 2010, Mr. Rene Guarin facilitated the first TWG meeting of the seaweeds group.

TWG agreement (in March 2010)

Technical Development-Production

Trowel

Materials and seedlings SPPI

Trading SPPI

Business management support

NAC/PHILSEN

Finance NAC/AKMA

Policy environment NAC/CERD

Meetings…

Trainings…

Seaweeds Net Protocols

PROCESS/ FUNCTION CONCERNS AGREEMENTMARKETINGcurrent market: MCPI, Cebu requires 20 tons a month Expansion in productionLOCAL 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 (farm gate price may range from P35-40)

payment COD to farmers

DRYING technology Hanging, platformsHARVESTING 30 days

PRODUCTION/FARMING technology Single floating long line

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

Basic requirementsLGUs a Coastal Resource Use map indicating areas

designated as seaweed farming zonesFarmers membership in a registered fisherfolk

organization in the municipality where the nursery is to be located; production plan

SEEDLINGS variety cotonii(spinosum will be accepted, separately packed)

quality free from diseasessource Nurseries in Capul , BFAR

Study Tours

In the process, we lost some : (and gained more… : )

A seaweeds scientist is a member of the network.

Mr. Maximo Ricohermoso of MCPI talks to seaweed farmers

The Governor of Northern Samar during the Provincial Seaweeds Conference

MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PROCESSES

• “Complex problems require innovative solutions. Innovative solutions are created when diverse stakeholders are able to meet, share experiences, learn together and contribute to decisions.”

• Multi-stakeholder processes are:

processes that aim to involve stakeholders in improving situations that affect them

forms of social interaction that enable different individuals and groups, who are affected by an issue, to enter into dialogue, negotiation, learning, decision making and collective action

about getting government staff, policy makers, community representatives, scientists, business people, and NGO representatives to think and work together

CHARACTERISTICS OF A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER

PROCESS

Stakeholders are involved in a

learning process

Involves stakeholders

working towards a common goal

Has a focused objective to bring

about change

Involves creating agreement on rules of cooperation and

process

Integrates bottom-up & top-down

strategies

Deals consciously with power &

conflict

Engages with structural &

institutional change

Works across different sectors

Three Core Elements

Practice

How to Design and Facilitate

MSPs

Rationale

Governing for Sustainability and Equity in a Complex

World

Principles

The Dynamics of Transformative

Change

PRINCIPLES

Working with complexity

Fostering collective learning

Reinventing institutions

Shifting power

Dealing with conflict

Enabling effective communication

Promoting collaborative leadership

THE SAMAR ISLAND SEAWEEDS VALUE CHAIN NETWORK (SEAWEEDS NET)

The market –MCPI – the private sector

Trade facilitator (SPPI)• While a trader is defined by Wikipedia as “one who attempts to generally

buy wholesale and sell later at a profit; ” trade facilitation is described as “involving a wide range of activities centered on lowering trade transaction costs.

Seaweeds farmers – numbers are increasing (incentives: study tours, awards; i.e. most innovative seaweed farmer

The NGOs which provide community organizing, participatory development governance, access to markets and finance, gender and environment advocacies, services and program support.• NGOs are given the role as convenor in the Samar Island Seaweeds Value

Chain Network or Seaweeds net.

Seaweeds Net

Support from the government:• Office of the Local Chief Executives through the Municipal

Agriculturists • Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Northern Samar

Province, Region 8 and Central Office) • Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office• Provincial Governor’s Office – Gov. Paul Daza promised to match

Seaweeds Net’s needs with his office’s program.

The Academe thru Dr. Ronelie Salvador who is a recognized seaweeds scientist in the Philippines.

ICCO, with its Value Chain Facilitation, who has been mentoring/coaching us with our value chain processes and has been providing us with organizational, technical and financial support.

DAMO GID NGA SALAMAT

JOELYN SOLDEVILLA BIAGEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SPPI

LEAD CONVENOR, SEAWEEDS NET