The Ninth Coconut Festival

The Philippines is one of the leading exporters of coconut in the world. And to continue on promoting and improving this industry, the Ninth Coconut Festival kicked off last Aug. 12-15 at the SM Megatrade Hall at the SM Megamall.

"The best coconut products were presented in the trade fair and exhibits, which was also a celebration and a tribute of honor and thanksgiving for the blessings and benefits derived from the industry to establish a continuing awareness of its [coconut] lasting importance to our national life," said Mr. Oscar G. Garin, president of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

The celebration was mandated by Presidential Proclamation No. 142, Series of 1987, issued by former President Corazon C. Aquino.

The theme "Niyog "Yaman ng Pinoy" highlighted the national magnitude and of the coconut and its industry as one of the major sources of millions of Filipinos" livelihood and sustenance.

The PCA Central Office and regional and provincial offices spearheaded the event that further promoted the coconut as the "Tree of Life," the multitude of products that can be derived from it. The festival also provided a venue for information sharing and trading activities, and lectures and demonstrations on the latest coconut technologies.

For details, please contact the Philippine Coconut Authority Market Development Department at (632)928-4501 locals 412 and 403.

Exploring Possibilities for Coconut Farmers in the First Coconut Summit

Coconut is one of the Philippines major exports and the country itself is also one of the major suppliers of this agricultural product in the world market. It is but natural that local governments push through with efforts that will aid in the development of this industry.

With this in mind, the First Mindanao Coconut Summit opened last July 30 and 31. Sponsored by Davao Region Coconut Industry Cluster and the Mindanao Business Council, partners of the vent include the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology.

Hosted by the provincial government of Davao Oriental and the Mati City local government, the organizers geared the summit toward the exploration of income possibilities for coconut farmers. An urgent need for model farms using integrated farming approaches which will hopefully be able to make coconut farming a viable business venture was also discussed.

The confab also focused on the commercial development of coconut products other than copra, including the production of coconut sugar out of the coconut sap or toddy. Another topic discussed in the conference was the prospect of producing bio-organic fertilizer from coco coir dust, a byproduct of coconut fiber extraction. Organic fertilizer is increasingly becoming popular because of the high costs of chemical fertilizers and health concerns regarding the chemical-based products.

The organizers of this conference hoped to aid the coconut industry to give a greater contribution to the country’s economy, which will also affect positively to the benefits of thousands of coconut farmers.

Gov’t Agencies Underscored Coconut Tree Importance at Philippine Coconut Summit

Numerous government agencies reiterated the importance of the coconut tree and encouraged farmers to support coconut tree planting in the province of Cagayan to meet the demand for coconut products in the country during the Philippine Coconut Summit held last July 27 – 31, 2009 at the Brickstone Mall in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

These agencies are the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) who jointly organized the event. The Summit was part of the Regional Science and Technology Week celebration with the theme "Responding to Global Challenges through Science and Technology".

Mr. Carlos Carpio, Deputy Administrator-PCA, said the province has great potential of coconut plantation considering the good quality of soil it has, however, only few land owners and farmers plant coconut trees because their priority is on agricultural products such as rice and corn.

Carpio said though farmers should really focus on rice, corn and other agricultural products, they must also consider coconut plants to meet the sustainability of coco products and which will also add in their income considering that coconut is a multipurpose plant; as food, medicine, cleaning equipments and many others.

Mrs. Loreta dela Cruz, Provincial Administrator-PCA Cagayan, revealed the problems in the implementation of RA 8042 and the moratorium on cutting coco trees in the province. She said there are illegally transported coco lumbers from the province and there are illegally cut coco trees that the law prohibits.

Dr. Urdujah Tejada, DOST 2- Regional Director, on her part said coconut industry is a big contributor to foreign exchange being one among crops that are exported to other countries. Dr. Tejada said that in the region, DOST has assisted the production of several products out of coconut such as the nata de coco, buko pie, coco vinegar, coco coir, geotextiles and many other products.

As a commitment, Regional Director Purita S. Licas, PIA Region 2, said the NutriComNet which she chairs will also help in the information dissemination and advocate to the people the importance of coconut in human life together with local media practitioners of the province.

For more information about the event, contact the Philippine Coconut Authority at (632) 928-4501, email pca_cpo@yahoo.com.ph, or visit their website at http://www.pca.da.gov.ph/