CV priority area for coco planting

The Philippine Coconut Authority identified Region VII and IV as priority areas for its massive coconut planting and replanting program.

PCA general manager Deodiro Ravelo said that PCA administrator Oscar Garin bared that some 89,000 coco seeds are now ready for delivery to the two regions, which are the initial recipients of the "Catch-Up" Planting and Replanting Program of the agency.

Ravelo said that the Central Visayas provinces have been found to be very suitable for coconut production, adding that: "Region VII (also) has a relatively high demand for planting materials yet no seed nuts are available."

The PCA is ensuring that high quality planting materials will be provided at affordable cost and will be delivered right to the municipal level.

At least 89,000 coco seeds have already been harvested at the end of May from various seed gardens in the country. They are now ready for distribution.

The harvested coco seeds were the products of the PCA-operated seed gardens at the Davao Research Center in Bago-Oshiro, Davao City; Coconut Seed Production Center in Aroman, North Cotabato; Zamboanga Research Center in San Ramon, Zamboanga City; Central Visayas Coconut Seed Production Center in Ubay, Bohol and Coconut Germplasm Testing Center in Pontevedra, Capiz.

Ravelo said that Central Visayas has over 14 hectares of land allotted to the replanting program.

Aside from making the coco seeds available to farmers at low cost, necessary technical assistance will also be provided to them to ensure quality production.

The PCA-operated coco gardens can produce up to two million seeds each year. Some of the highly marketable coconut products include the Virgin Coconut Oil and the coconut coir and fiber. - Ferliza C. Contratista