TO INCREASE productivity among coconut farmers, an agribusiness firm is looking into organizing coconut farmers and helping them sell husk to potential buyers, a business leader said.

Alex Senajon, business representative of Franklin Baker, said the thrust of the company is aligned with the development of Filipino coconut farmers.

“Last month, we have visitors from Europe who are interested in putting up a company in Davao del Sur to buy the husks,” Senajon said on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.

Senajon added Franklin Baker’s primary ingredient is the nut and the European company’s interest in the husk will benefit in making sure there are no waste coconut produce for the Filipino farmers.

“We have signed up with L3F (Livelihoods Fund for Family Farming) in France, but we also have a community NGO (nongovernment organization) here in the Philippines, the IRDF (Integrated Rural Development Foundation) that will help us organize these farmers,” Senajon said.

The business leader added the partnership was already signed sometime in April. He also said this will help maximize the turnout of having better ways in the alleviation of the current life status of Filipino farmers.

Data from the Philippine Coconut Authority in Davao (PCA 11) showed the price of the copra in the market ranges from P23 to P24 per kilograms (kg) while whole nut is priced at P5 per kilogram.

Senajo said the project will last for a decade and about 5,000 farmers are eyed to become members of the said project.