THE Philippine Coconut Authority Davao Region targets to distribute 690,000 coconut seedlings to registered coconut farmers in the region this year.
Data from PCA Davao Region showed that 98,500 seeds will be allotted for Davao City; 137,000 seeds for Davao del Sur; 60,000 seeds for Davao Occidental; 98,500 seeds for Davao del Norte; 98,500 for Compostela Valley; and 197,500 for Davao Oriental.
The initiative is under the Accelerated Coconut Planting and Replanting Project (ACPRP), a program that promotes coconut planting in open and suitable areas and replanting of senile and unproductive coconut trees and those damaged by natural calamities using farmer’s preferred variety such as tall and dwarf varieties sourced within the locality.
“Ang recipient natin ay lahat ng coconut farmers na members namin. Ang ACPRP ang mother program ng PCA at mayroon pa ‘yang mga programs din under it na makakatulong talaga sa industrya. It aims to encourage more farmers to plant coconut trees and boost production,” PCA Davao Region regulation officer Arnel Cabillan said in a phone interview Modnay, June 24, 2019.
“Kung bibili pa kasi ang farmer ng coconut seedling, it will cost them around P40 per seedling. Ngayon, ibinibigay na natin ng libre sa kanila,” he added.
Cabillan further said they already distributed around 80 percent of the allotted coconut seedlings; however, those farmers who are still interested to avail should register in the nearest satellite office or provincial office of PCA.
The provincial office of Davao del Sur is in Digos City, Davao Oriental is in Mati City, Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte is in Tagum City.
“May mga walk-in applicants, we register them and they become members who can avail these services,” Cabillan said.
The program has a total budget of P27,600,000 for 6,900 hectares in Davao region.
Programs under ACRP include the Participatory Coconut Planting Project (PCPP), Coconut Seedlings Dispersal Project (CSDP), and Indigenous People’s Outreach Program (IPOP).