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Philippines' Salt Farmers Struggle to Sustain a Dying Industry Amid Climate Challenges
How the Philippines' last salt farmers keep a dying industry alive
Khaleej Times
Image: Khaleej Times
Filipino salt farmer Amando races against the monsoon to harvest salt in Pangasinan, the last province with active salt beds. The industry, once thriving, has declined due to the 1995 ASIN Law mandating iodisation, urbanisation, and climate change, forcing the country to import 93% of its salt. A new law aims to revive local production.
- 01The Philippines has become a 93% net importer of salt, requiring 550,000 to 628,000 metric tons annually.
- 02The ASIN Law of 1995 mandated iodised salt, which led to the decline of local salt production due to high costs and urbanisation.
- 03Amando's salt production has benefited from favorable weather this season, allowing him to fill his storeroom ahead of the monsoon.
- 04The Philippine Salt Industry Development Act aims to revive the local salt industry, but its implementation has been largely ignored.
- 05Despite being an archipelagic nation, the Philippines relies heavily on imported salt, primarily from Australia.
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Amando, a salt farmer from Pangasinan, Philippines, is working quickly to harvest salt before the onset of the monsoon season. This province is the last in the country with active salt beds, but the industry has faced severe decline since the 1995 ASIN Law mandated iodisation of all salt sold, leading to the closure of many local producers. Urbanisation has further eroded traditional salt farms, with the Philippines now importing 93% of its salt, primarily from Australia. The country consumes between 600,000 to 683,000 metric tons of salt annually, with a significant portion used in the fishing industry. Recent efforts, including the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, aim to revive local production, but implementation has been slow and ineffective. The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) advocates for greater support for local farmers and production capabilities, emphasizing the need for the government to prioritize domestic salt production over imports.
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The decline of the salt industry affects local economies and employment opportunities in rural areas, particularly for fisher-folk.
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