The government has been distributing hybrid planting materials, seedlings, and other forms of assistance to coconut farmers to increase their income and benefits.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles’ reported on Oct. 4 to President Rodrigo Duterte that the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has distributed 1,531,956 hybrid planting materials and 2,307,330 open-pollinated varieties (OPV) to farmers.
A total of 36,642,245 seedlings were also planted that benefitted 198,260 coconut farmers under Coconut Planting and Replanting Projects, while 249,643 hectares of coconut areas were also fertilized that benefitted 156,661 farmers.
Twelve Seed Farm Development Projects were also established.
“Ang pagsasabatas ng Republic Act 11524 or ‘yung Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act… ay dekada na pong hinihintay ng ating mga coconut farmers. It is only under your administration na magiging reality po ito,” he said.
“Mina-mandate po na magkaroon na ng roadmap itong Coconut Farmers’ and Industry Development Plan — kailangang gawin para malaman po kung paano gamitin ‘yung pera dito para sa benefit ng ating mga coconut farmers,” he added.
The official said the National Coconut Farmers’ Registry System (NCFRS) has also been updated, with the registration of additional 585,322 new coconut farmers. This brings the total coconut farmers’ count to 3,109,589 from the 2,524,267 tallies in 2018.
“Malaking bagay ‘to para sa mga coconut farmers, lalong-lalo na ‘pag napirmahan or ma-approve na ‘yung plan, magagamit at mapapakinabangan na po ‘yung collection [ng] coconut levy funds,” he said.
Poverty alleviation
Nograles said 17,957 hectares benefitting 19,647 farmers were covered by PCA’s KAANIB Enterprise Development Project (KEDP) – Crop Diversification, or the intercropping of coconut and various other crops to raise their income.
Animal integration was also included in the poverty alleviation program with the distribution of 4,812 livestock to 3,205 farmers. – AG-_# bny
