Coco farmers to benefit from proposed trust fund

(File Photo)
(File Photo)

THE Philippine Coconut Authority regional office in Davao region (PCA 11) said the establishment of the coconut farmer’s trust fund will boost ongoing PCA projects for the coconut industry in the region and benefit the coconut farmers.

The coconut farmers' trust fund was proposed by President Rodrigo Duterte during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 23, 2018.

“Regarding the President’s state of the nation address (Sona) on mentioning the creation of coconut trust fund, this would be a great help for our Filipino coconut farmers, and the ongoing projects of PCA for them,” Arnel Cabillan, PCA 11 acting administration officer and regulation officer, said in an interview at Philippine Coconut Authority, Bago Oshiro, Davao City on Wednesday, July 25, 2018.

Cabillan said a probable revival of scholarships for coconut farmers could be one of the outcomes from the proposed coconut farmer’s trust fund.

“From what I know, there would be a revival of the scholarship programs for the children’s coconut farmers. It was done years before under Philippine Coconut Producers Federation, Incorporated (Cocofed),” Cabilllan said.

On Monday, Duterte urged the Congress during his Sona to enact a bill that will legislate the proposed coconut farmers' fund.

“Our farmers, especially our coconut farmers, form a significant part of the basic sectors of society. It is from the toil of their hands that we put food on the table. It is my hope that we finally see this through. I urge you Congress to convene the [bicameral] conference committee and pass at the soonest possible time the bill establishing the Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund. I pray that you will do it,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, Cabillan added even before up until now, PCA has been conducting projects that will help coconut farmers tend to their coconut farms and the proposed trust fund will help sustain these.

“We have continuing salt fertilization programs where PCA provides salt fertilizers to farmers increase coconut production. Another is coconut planting and replanting program. This is to replace ‘senile’ coconuts that have lesser count of production,” Cabillan said.

Cabillan added that programs like these have been ongoing throughout the region.

“We are even inviting farmers to practice inter-cropping. This is allowing to plant another fruit-bearing tree like bananas and cacao under the shed of coconuts. In this way, when coconuts do not bear any fruit, other source of income can be gained,” Cabillan said.

Cabillan said PCA 11 continues to implement the Kaanib project where the agency provides decorticating machine in order to collect coconut fiber from the husk. In this way, the fiber can be sold as another source of income for the farmers.

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