The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), formally launched the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) at the Quezon Convention Hall, Lucena City on June 24, 2022.

The CFIDP was drafted following the signing of Republic Act 11524, better known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Fund Act, of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on February 26, 2021. The plan was approved through Executive Order 172, which was signed on June 2, 2022.

CFIDP aims to increase the income and productivity of the 2.5 million coconut farmers in the country; promote poverty alleviation, education, and social equity; and rehabilitate and modernize the Philippine coconut industry.

“This is such a formidable law that will give new life and new hope to coconut farmers in this country,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar expressed in his keynote speech.

The CFIDP is composed of various components to be realized by the PCA, in partnership with other government agencies:

1. Social Protection

• Health and Medical Program (PCA, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation)
• Crop Insurance (Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation)
• Scholarship (Commission on Higher Education)
• Trainings and Farm Schools (Agricultural Training Institute, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority)

2. Coconut Farmers Organization and Development

• Farm Cooperatives and Associations Development (Cooperative Development Authority)

3. Hybridization

• Hybridization Operations (PCA)
• Hybridization Research (Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development)

4. Community-based Farm Enterprise Development: Farm Rehabilitation and Improvement

• Intercropping with Cacao and Coffee (DA – High Value Crops Development Program)
• Livestock and Poultry Integration (DA – Bureau of Animal Industry)
• Dairy Integration (DA – National Dairy Authority)

5. Integrated Coconut Processing and Downstream Products

• Shared Processing Facilities (DA – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization)

6. Innovative Research Projects and their Practical Application on Coconut Processing, Production, and Distribution

7. Support Services

• Credit (Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines)
• Research, Marketing, and Market Promotion (Department of Trade and Industry)
• Infrastructure (Department of Public Works and Highways)
• Policies and Regulations

According to the Secretary, the plan is based on the whole-of-government approach, involving various partner agencies.

“Wala nang rason para hindi pa umangat ang industriya ng coconut sa bansa,” Secretary Dar explained.

As part of his directives, the agri chief called for the release of funds to PCA’s partner institutions for the implementation of the CFIDP components.

He encouraged the use of modern farming techniques, better varieties, and the power of science and technology to increase the average coconut production to 150 nuts per tree annually from its current 40-45 nuts per tree.

Finally, the DA chief directed PCA and partner agencies to focus on the development of the coconut value chain.

“Don’t forget that income is an equally important objective. That is why a good number of these [CFIDP] components, nariyan ang diversification of the coconut system. Using high-value crops, using livestock so that there is an array of agricultural enterprises as sources of income for our coconut farmers,” he said.

To avail the CFIDP’s various initiatives, coconut farmers must be registered in the National Coconut Farmers’ Registry System (NCFRS).

Eligible members include: farm owners and/or owner-tillers, coconut growers who own not less than 0.5 hectares of land with at least 20 coconut trees; tenants or tenant-workers; and farm workers or laborers.

Meanwhile, coconut farmers in Quezon, through the Yakap at Halik Multi-Purpose Cooperative (YHMPC), also received 100 pieces of hybrid coconut seedlings,100 pieces of cacao seedlings, 100 pieces of coffee seedlings, and 200 heads of chicken with feeds to spur the CFIDP implementation in the province as the consistent top producer of coconuts in the Philippines.

The CFIDP launching was attended by Secretary Dar, Assistant Secretary for Operations and DA Regional Field Office IV-A Director Arnel de Mesa, Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel Reyes, PCA Deputy Administrator Roel Rosales, YHMPC President Arnel Amparo, officials of partner agencies and local government offices, and coconut farmers-beneficiaries and organizations. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)