DA allots P700 million for coconut fertilization program

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), reportedly plans to spend up to P700 million this year on a fertilization program for the coconut sector.

PCA director and incoming CIIF Oil Mills Group president Jesus Arranza said the fertilization program which will be using salt is intended to achieve a 10 percent to 15 percent hike in coconut production this year.

The program involves fertilizing coconut farms with two kilos of salt per tree per year for three years to increase yield by at least 25 percent. Salt fertilization helps increase the thickness of coconut meat and the number of nuts harvested.

The procedure also makes coconut trees resistant to drought, pests and diseases.

Last year, the DA allocated P1 billion for a similar program.

According to Arranza, there is still a carry-over amount thus the slightly lower allocation for this year.

He said, the DA is also allocating an additional amount for corn intercropping program that would boost the income of coconut farmers. The additional amount would likely come from the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) corn program, Arranza said.

Arranza is also proposing an animal dispersal program inasmuch as corn intercropping only works well during the early gestation period of a coconut plantation when the trees are small and growing.

Experience has shown, Arranza said, that corn does not grow well in shaded areas.

As such, in fully grown coconut plantations, Arranza said, government should implement an alternative animal disperal program such as carabao or kambing (goat) raising.

Carabao raising by coconut farmers, would also help the local dairy industry, Arranza said.

He said Danilo Fausto of the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines, has expressed interest in helping provide farmers with hybrid carabaos that they can raise to produce milk.

Normally, Arranza said, carabaos produce a limited amount of milk, or about five liters, only during gestation. Fausto has developed hybrid carabaos that are able to produce up to 12 liters of milk.

Arranza said Fausto may be willing to provide carabaos to coconut farmers who could then sell back their milk production to Fausto.

Arranza is hoping to meet with Fausto to formalize such a program. –Marianne V. Go, Philippine Star