RP may lose distinction as top coconut producer

CEBU, Philippines – The coconut industry of the Philippines, wherein about 25 million Filipinos are dependent on, will lose its place in the coconut world market unless the government will do something about it.

This was the apprehension expressed by House Minority Floor Leader Teofisto “TG” Guingona III amid the recent study made by the Asian Development Bank that the country will lose the distinction of being the world's top coconut producer and supplier.

Guingona, who is a member of the House committee on food and agriculture, said that the country's competitive advantage in the international market is being chipped away unless the government do something to address the declining productivity of coconuts.

“While other countries are catching up with us in terms of production and export, we have not done any large-scale replanting nor have we adequately invested in research and development of the coconut industry,” Guingona said.

He added that the government must invest in the immediate rehabilitation of the coconut industry, particularly in replanting of the new coconuts. “At present, the rate of coconut trees being cut down is faster than the rate of new coconuts being planted,” Guingona said.

The ADB report also cited the government’s continuing failure to address the concerns of “stagnation and declining productivity of coconuts, low domestic consumption and weak research and development” as major reason for the decline.

To date, the coconut industry is the country’s biggest crop industry after rice and corn. The Philippines is also the world’s top producer and supplier of coconut with our 59-percent share in world coconut exports.

There are 3.5 million coconut farmers and another 25 million Filipinos dependent on the coconut industry. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)