Abstract
The study analyzed the profitability of small and medium scale salt enterprises in Alubijid and El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. It determined salt production practices; assessed the profitability of salt production; and identified the problems encountered in salt production. Forty-two salt producers in the area were personally interviewed using a pre-tested interview schedule. Descriptive and cost and returns analysis, rate of return on investment (ROI), and ANOVA were employed. Results revealed that the production practices of the salt producers are dictated by the flooring materials of salt beds and the type and volume of salt produced were highly dependent on the flooring materials and on weather. It was concluded that salt production is a profitable enterprise and the salt beds with transparent polyethylene plastic as flooring material were the most profitable, despite having the most labor-intensive production process. Recommendations include usage of transparent polyethylene plastic as flooring material and teaching appropriate technology for seawater filtration to address the problem on degraded quality of seawater with the local government unit (LGU) taking the lead. Also, a soft loan program be put up for buying flooring materials so that more members of the lakeshore community can engage in the salt making.