15-February-2008 SEARCA News Release
There’s cash in coconut farming if farmers adopt a sustainable coconut-based farming system. This was pointed out by Dr. Pons Batugal, Chairman and President of Farmers’ Community Development Foundation International during the Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) last Feb. 12.
This was proven by four pilot municipalities in the Philippines where new strategies in coconut farming were developed from 2002-2004. The project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was implemented in eight countries. The Farmers Community Development Foundation International served as implementing agency of the project in the Philippines.
The four pilot sites in the country were (1) Real, Quezon; (2) Cauayan, Negros Occidental; (3) Maitum, Saranggani; and (4) Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.
This system consists of having a mix of coconut products, planting cash and medicinal crops, growing livestock integration, and producing nursery plants. A mix of coconut products includes geotextile for road construction, coconut sap sugar, shell handicraft, and coconut marzipan (bukayo).
This project significantly increased farmers’ income within three years of implementation. Thus, the same project was supported by the International Fund for Agriculture and Development (IFAD) which funded three more sites in the Philippines. The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) also funded four sites.
This project was replicated in 32 additional communities in 15 coconut-growing countries worldwide. (Ranell Martin M. Dedicatoria, KMU)
