Saturday, July 16, 2005
Matured coconut production drops, but green coco up
* Bukidnon, Camiguin and Misamis Oriental posted an increase
* However, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental had the least production
A SLIGHT decline of 0.33 percent in the production of matured coconuts has been observed in Northern Mindanao during the first quarter of the year.
This is revealed by the PCS-BAS Quarterly Coconut Production Survey, which shows that compared to the 374,204,186 nuts produced during the same period, last year, only 372,950,709 nuts were recorded from January to March, 2005.
Regional Director Myra V. Balandra of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 10 who compiled the data said the increase of production of matured coconuts was noted in Bukidnon with 33.28 percent, from 7,859,526 to 10,475,076 nuts, in Misamis Oriental with 4.89 percent, from 108,279,584 to 113,570,875 nuts and in Camiguin with 4.49 percent, from 18,611,614 to 19,446,823 nuts.
But those of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental, she said, went down by 5.85percent, from 126,612,991 to 119,202,697 and 2.29percent, from 112,840,471 to 110,255,238 nuts, respectively.
Copra production, like the matured coconuts, also went down by 0.19percent, from 91,365 metric tons to 91,191MT. Although three provinces--Bukidnon, Camiguin and Misamis Oriental posted positive in this aspect, their combined production was not able to offset the decline in the other two provinces, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.
Again, Bukidnon recorded the highest copra production of 33.56 percent, from 1,648MT to 2,201MT, followed by Camiguin by 4.50 percent, from 4,641MT to 4,850MT, and Misamis Occidental by 3.68 percent, from 28,281MT to 29,323MT.
In Lanao del Norte, copra production went down by 6.09 percent, from 31,496MT to 29,579MT, and Misamis Oriental by 0.24 percent, from 25,299MT to 25,238MT.
However, green coconut production in the region went up by 16.19 percent, from 539,129 to 626,420 nuts with Misamis Oriental recording the highest production of 65.73 percent, from 161,569 to 267,765 nuts, followed by Misamis Occidental by 6.79 percent, from 24,227 to 25,871 nuts.
So far, Camiguin registered the biggest decline in green coconut production by 12.98 percent, from 81,124 to 70,598, Bukidnon by 6.19 percent, from 142,259 to 133,454 nuts, and Lanao del Norte by 0.95 percent, from 129,950 to 128,732 nuts, Balandra also said.
Meanwhile quality standards for raw and unprocessed coconut products such as "Nata de Coco" and "Buko" juice will soon be set in an effort to increase the consumer base not only in the country but also abroad.
Along this development, the Philippine Coconut Authority is embarking on a research extending the shelf life of fresh coconut juice in light of an expanding market in North America, Middle East and Asia that are eager to gobble up natural health foods. (Trends)
(July 16, 2005 issue)
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