DAVAO (Sun Star).- SEAWEED production in Davao Region in the first three months of 2008 has significantly increased, though three provinces in the region have posted negative output.

Based on a data furnished by the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), seaweed production in the region increased by 42.19 percent as compared to same period last year.

During the first quarter of 2008, seaweed production reached to 866.6 metric tons, while in the first quarter of 2007, production is only placed at 609.5 metric tons.

The increase in production during the period is triggered by an increase in total production in Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur, whose output was raised to 794.74 percent and 98.51 percent, respectively.

Compostela Valley, Davao City, and Davao Oriental, on the other hand, all cut their production by 93.87 percent, 33.67 percent, and 30.04 percent, respectively.

From 354.5 metric tons in the first quarter of 2007, Davao del Sur's seaweed production climbed up to 703.8 metric tons. Davao del Norte posted 1.7 metric tons of seaweeds for the period from 0.2 metric ton last year.

Among the five provinces in the region, Compostela Valley was recorded to have the least volume in production with only 0.9 metric ton. Davao City has 143 metric tons produced, while Davao Oriental has 17.3 metric tons.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph