The Reality of Salt Making in the Philippines (Irasan Salt)

Summary

The script narrates the decline of the traditional salt-making industry in the Philippines, once a thriving sector. It highlights the challenges faced by salt makers, including climate change's impact on production and the 1995 Asin Law mandating iodized salt, which led to a decrease in artisanal salt sales. The story focuses on the Heirloom Irasan of Kawit, Cavite, where salt makers like Nerly Kahalili struggle with labor-intensive processes and weather unpredictability. Despite hardships, there's hope with a recent law amendment allowing the sale of artisanal salts, potentially reviving the industry and promoting geographical indication for local products.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The Philippines, an archipelago, has the fifth longest shoreline in the world, which historically supported a thriving salt industry.
• 🏞️ Salt making, once a prosperous tradition, is now a dying craft in the country, with only a few 'irasans' or salt beds remaining.
• 🔥 Salt harvesting was a well-rewarded practice in the early 1990s, with five major salt-producing regions in the Philippines.
• 🌧️ Climate change has negatively impacted salt production, with unpredictable weather patterns disrupting the traditional dry season harvest times.
• 📉 The Asin Law of 1995, mandating iodization of all salt sold in the Philippines, led to a decline in traditional salt farming as many producers couldn't adapt.
• 💧 The process of salt making is labor-intensive and time-consuming, involving cleaning salt beds, managing water salinity, and drying salt.
• 🌞 Salt quality and color vary based on the harvest sequence and weather conditions, with the first harvest being grayish and used for preservation.
• 📉 The ASIN Law has had a significant impact on traditional salt farmers, with many being forced to abandon their craft due to the legal requirement to iodize salt.
• 🌟 There is a recent positive development with an amendment to the law that exempts artisanal salts from iodization requirements, potentially reviving the industry.
• 🙌 The script calls for support of local salt producers to sustain their craft and to foster discussions on the state of agricultural systems.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Philippines' shoreline in relation to salt production?

The Philippines, being an archipelago, has over 36,000 kilometers of shoreline, which is the fifth longest in the world. This extensive coastline contributes to the abundance of saltwater, which was historically a key factor in the thriving salt industry of the country.

Why is salt making considered a dying tradition in the Philippines?

Salt making is a dying tradition in the Philippines due to factors such as import liberalization, urbanization, and the Asin Law of 1995, which disallowed the sale of uniodized salt, leading to a decline in salt farms and the practice itself.

What is the term used for salt beds in the Philippines, and what is their current status?

In the Philippines, salt beds are referred to as 'irasans'. They are currently in a state of decline, with only a few remaining, as the traditional salt-making practice is fading away.

What was the economic situation of salt harvesting in the early 1990s in the Philippines?

In the early 1990s, salt harvesting in the Philippines was a well-rewarded practice, with the country being self-sufficient in salt and having five major salt-producing regions.

How has the Asin Law of 1995 impacted the salt-making communities in the Philippines?

The Asin Law of 1995, which mandated the iodization of all salt sold in the country, negatively impacted salt-making communities by rendering their traditional, uniodized salt technically illegal to sell, leading to a decline in the industry and loss of livelihoods for many salt makers.

What is the role of climate change in the challenges faced by salt makers in the Philippines?

Climate change has made the weather unpredictable for salt makers, causing rain during what should be the dry season for salt harvesting. This has led to a decrease in the quality and quantity of salt produced, as well as an increase in the difficulty of the already labor-intensive process.

What are the different uses of salt based on the sequence of harvest as described in the script?

The first harvest, which is grayish in color, is used for preserving fish, making salted eggs, curing carabao meat, or in the Filipino shrimp paste called 'bagoong'. The next harvest yields cleaner, whiter salt, which is sold to bakeries or in the local market, and the best ones may be eaten as is.

How does the weather during the harvest season affect the salt-making process?

Rain during the harvest season can ruin the salt-making process, as it washes away the salt and requires the salt beds to be cleaned again, leading to a loss of both product and potential income for the salt makers.

What is the recent legislative change that could benefit the artisanal salt industry in the Philippines?

A recent amendment to the law has been passed in the lower house, which carves out artisanal salts from the mandatory iodization law, allowing them to be sold. This could help revive the traditional salt-making practice and support local farmers.

What is the significance of Geographical Indication in the context of the Philippine salt industry?

Geographical Indication (GI) is significant as it aims to recognize and protect the unique qualities of products, like artisanal salts, that are specific to certain locations in the Philippines. This could help promote and preserve the traditional salt-making practices and give them a distinct identity in the global market.