Local crabs go international!

In one municipality in Surigao del Sur called Tago, residents depend on the blessings of nature. Facing the Pacific Ocean, Tago’s main marine product are crabs. In some Asian countries like the Philippines, mud crab farming is very popular.

“I grew up raising and selling crabs. It has been our source of living from the very beginning,” recalled Juliet Ramirez, 59, owner of a pond with export- quality crabs.

Juliet owns one of the businesses that has the largest market for crabs and other marine products in Surigao del Sur. Born and raised here, she inherited the business from her parents.

In 2005, she and her husband decided to have their own pond to tender crabs. “The business seems to be stable already, so we still decided to expand,” Juliet added.

Early in 2010, the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), Inc. (A Microfinance NGO), a social development organization that offers microloans to support the livelihood activities of the socio-economically challenged women and families, came to Tago. Juliet joined the institution as one of the pioneering clients in the town.  She started a loan amounting to 3,000 pesos, which she added to their investment on crabs.

At present, their business is going well. Their farms are expanding and their crabs are exported to a certain market in Singapore. Their delivery of export-quality products is twice to thrice a week. Moreover, local restaurants that offer local and international cuisines order a lot of crabs regularly.

Harvest is every three months, but their lowest income in selling crabs is estimated to be 2,000 pesos per day. That would suffice their daily needs and other expenses. Their other income come from their 5-hectare rice field.

If one would define success, one could say something based on his or her own perception. For Juliet, success is seeing the people she cared for smiling and being contented on each one’s life. Not having too much for they might forget to utter thanks to the Supreme Being; not having too little, for they might do something that should not be done. Success is having enough and living simply.