Copra quality improvement scheme for RP proposed

Cargill Philippines is proposing a plan to improve the quality of copra and prevent a permanent loss by the local coconut industry in the wake of more stringent quality standards imposed by the Europen Union on the allowable aflatoxin level in copra meal.

In a presentation before Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., Cargill said the proposed Copra Quality Improvement Program (CQIP) can be an effective measure to convince buyers of copra meal in EU to allow the resumption of shipments of the commodity from the Philippines.

The EU reduced recently the maximum aflatoxin level in copra meal from 200 to only 20 parts per billion (ppb), virtually shutting out Philippine exports.

The county’s copra meal exporters will have difficulty complying with this new requirement unless radical steps are carried out to ensure that the product’s aflatoxin content are reduced to the new levels set by the EU.

Based on data from the Philippine Coconut Authority, the aflatoxin level of copra meal is 95 ppb in Lucena, 100 pbb in Cebu, 43 pbb in Leyte, 48 ppb in Zamboanga, 31 pbb in Cagayan de Oro, 103 pbb in Davao and 100 pbb in General Santos City.

The CQIP also addresses another pressing concern — the high hydrocarbon content of coconut oil shipments from the Philippines. The EU, the country’s biggest market for coconut oil, is reportely in the process of passing new stringent limits which could again, adversely affect exports.

Currently, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PaH) level of Philippine coconut oil is about 47 pbb compared to other oils’ range of 2 to 12 ppb.

A high PaH level is the result of incomplete fuel combustion during kiln-drying. It is considered a carcinogenic compound. Tests among rodents show that it induces tumors in the stomach, causes ovarian lymphoid, mammary and hepatic tumors.

Cargill’s proposed solution is as simple as installing a Kukum copra dryer which Cargill claims is capable of bringing aflatoxin level to just 17 pbb, well below that prescribed by EU.

For coconut oil the PaH level could go down to 2 pbb, Cargill said.

Kukum dryers have been tested and proven effective in producing copra meal that conforms to the quality requirements of buyers.

The technology is now being utilized by some producers in Southern Mindanao, but its application remains limited

Until now, most coconut farmers continue to dry their copra on the shoulder of cemented roads. Split coconuts are not immediately dried and oftentimes get wet with rain. As a result, aflatoxin is produced by the yellow-green molds called aspergillus flavus in copra that are not dried properly.

Aflatoxin is a very poisonous compound that causes cancer. It is feared that aflatoxin could be passed on to infant milk if the copra meal used as feed ingredient has high levels of aflatoxin.

With the use of Kukum dryers, Cargill said a firing consistency of 90 to 100 degrees centigrade, sufficient ground vent and properly designed heat chamber measurement and kiln drum inclination will reduce copra moisture content to 15 percent in the first 10 hours and to just 12 percent in 20 hours.

In contrast, sun-dried copra after 36 hours of drying still has a moisture content of 17.8 percent.

Cargill said one unit of Kukum dryer will cost P15,000 and based on the average annual production of 2.4 million metric tons (MT) of which 1.8 million MT is for export, the program will require the setting up of 15,000 dryers nationwide to get the expected results.

Currently, 47 such dryers are already being used in several coconut processing farms in Sarangani, South Cotabato and General Santos in Southern Mindanao.

Aside from putting up the dryers, Cargill is also collaborating with the PCA and the DA to disseminate the technology to coconut farmers and producers, including teaching them modern and proper drying methods.