Value-adding coconut
The Philippine Coconut Authoriy said there is a huge market potential for value-added coconut products
With the competitive market of the coconut industry in the Southeast Asian region, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is pushing for the value adding of coconut products in the country.
PCA administrator Romulo J. de la Rosa said coconut farmers must be able to widen their options in increasing possible coconut production aside from just selling copra.
He said the copra is a tough market competition to play with and coconut farmers must be strategic enough to utilize their coconut plantation in order to gain more.
“May malaking market na pwedeng i-venture ang ating mga coconut farmers sa coconut water, aside rin dito may mga coconut products rin na pwede i-export tulad ng coconut chips and other processed goods. (There is a big market for our coconut farmer to venture for coconut water, aside from this, there are coconut products too which could be exported like coconut chips and other processed goods),” de la Rosa said during the “Biyaya ng Pagbabago sa Niyugan” launching on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at PCA office, Bago Oshiro, Davao City.
De la Rosa added PCA is already proposing to also help train and facilitate coconut farmers in this type of market.
“Sa ngayon kung gusto talaga nating magexport, kailangan maayos ang packaging kase nga fresh coconut water ito at kokonti lang ang shelf life (For now if we really want to export, we need to have proper packaging because this is fresh coconut water and it only has less shelf life),” de la Rosa said.
He said the Filipino coconut farmers must shift their options in just selling copra especially that the prices are dwindling and unpredictable.
De la Rosa added PCA is already starting a research and development project to come up with a better technology in packaging coconut water.
“Kaya mahalaga rin ang mga pagtitipong mga kagaya nito upang maganda na nagmumula rin sa mga coconut farmers ang mga suggestions nila kung papaano pa gumawa ng mas maraming paraan para mag produce (That’s why meetings like these are important so that concerns from the coconut farmers and their suggestions on how to produce more can be addressed),” Office of Participatory Governance undersecretary Joselito Libres said during the event.
Libres said intercropping by planting other crops along with coconut is an effective way to also have income while waiting for the coconut produce.
He added in this way, Filipino coconut farmers are assured with earning more than the usual agricultural produce, providing an immediate access for food to eat as well. /
“May malaking market na pwedeng i-venture ang ating mga coconut farmers sa coconut water, aside rin dito may mga coconut products rin na pwede i-export tulad ng coconut chips and other processed goods. ” Romulo J. de la Rosa PCA administrator