"We used to sell our fish for 20 peso per kg – now we sell it to the community processing centre for 45 and we are paid on time. The people who catch the fish can profit, instead of the traders – we are paying off our debts and our community is working together." (Ronal Belar, Fisherman)
Funded by TRAID, One World Action and Phillipines local partner Human, Economic and Ecological Foundation (HEED) are combating the poverty of the Manobo people by forming the Agusan Marsh Fish Processing Enterprise.
For the first time in their history the fishing families who live on the lakes of Agusan Marshes in the Philippines are selling their fish for a fair price, taking control of fish processing and organising their communities.
The Agusan Marshes are in Mindanao, the second largest island of the Philippines. The majority of the population of this area are indigenous people from the Manobo tribe. Their main source of livelihood is fishing and they live on boats on the marshes.
Traditionally fishing communities sell their fish to local traders for a very low price. The traders give the fishing men and women cash advances or loans which tie them to detrimental trading terms. The traders process and dry the fish selling them on and profiting from the value added. This exploitation and lack of control over their livelihood makes the fishing families in this area incredibly poor, highly indebted and dependant on traders. They also have extremely limited access to health, education and other basic services.
Poverty and financial pressure from traders, force fishing families to use unsustainable methods that over time decrease fish stocks (e.g. using dynamite and electricity, or catching smaller fish) and integral to this project is to enable the fishing communities to develop sustainable methods of fishing.
This enterprise is giving fishing families greater control and ownership of the fishing process - from catching, buying, processing and packaging, through to transportation, marketing and finally reinvestment of profits.
Project Impacts
- Fishing families are selling their catch at a higher and more stable price
- The processing plant is operational and will generate profits within one year
- 100 fishing families have been equipped with fishing nets and canoes
A community processing plant has been established for buying, drying, packaging and marketing fish. The plant has been fully operational since December 2007. The installation of machines and equipment followed recommendations made by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology. The plant is based on the Simulao River with excellent access for transport and buying fish. Around 10 staff are currently employed at the plant from the local fishing communities.
Four co-operatives of Manobo fishing families have been established in the Agusan Marshes. In Lake Mihaba, Lake Kangno and Lake Kelobedan in Bunawan, and Lake Kibatasan in Talacogon. By catching, selling and working as a co-operative, fishing families have lessened their dependency on, and indebtedness to, traders and are now selling their fish at fair and stable prices.
Collective marketing of dried fish is being managed by a Marketing Committee. The fish is currently being sold to individuals and contracts are being negotiated with supermarkets, outlets in Davao airport, and with restaurants in the region
Sustainable fishing methods (gill net, hook and line) have been developed, promoted and put into use by the communities. The co-operatives have also developed guidelines on sustainable fishing in Agusan Marshes.
An ongoing capacity building and training programme has been implemented by HEED to members of the co-operatives. Training modules so far have included Dried Fish Processing Technology, Financial Management Control, Fish Breeding and Culture, and Project Management. A series of workshops have been held to formulate the organisational constitution and by-laws of the cooperatives.
Through this project the Manobo fishing community have gained the skills and resources needed to run a successful and profitable social enterprise.
To find out more about the project visit One World Action
