A forum for women entrepreneurs in the fisheries sector was conducted recently.
The forum aimed to enhance the skills of women entrepreneurs in the fisheries micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on the export of live and frozen shrimp and shrimp products.
Held at the EPHATHA Development Center, SACOP, Maimpis, San Fernando, Pampanga, the forum was spearheaded by the National Network on Women in Fisheries in the Philippines, Inc. (WINFISH).
The Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (IARRD-PCAARRD) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Central Office and Regional Office 3 collaborated in the conduct of the event.
Keynote Speaker Atty. Benjamin F. Tabios, Jr. emphasized the roles of women and the partnership of producers-processors and exporters in the development of the fisheries sector.
Dr. Dalisay DG. Fernandez, IARRD Director and project proponent, defined the rationale and expected outputs of the forum.
Industry representatives from Regions 1-5 presented and shared their experiences/successes on the production and marketing of live and frozen shrimps.
The workshop provided opportunities for the discussion of areas of concern and the needed S&T intervention for the development and/or improvement of the live and frozen shrimp and shrimp products per region.
Some areas of concern from production to marketing were also identified during the forum. These include fry sourcing, control of predators, equipment upgrading, product packaging and labelling, application of hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), needs for technology assistance, market matching and links, and availing of DOST SETUP assistance.
The forum yielded an agreement between an exporter and a group of processors.