Ratchanburi, Thailand – Three months ago, when the Department of Agriculture (DA) promoted green coconuts or “buko” marketing as a way out of the very low copra prices, critics jeered and even castigated us.
“Yong presyo ng copra ang asikasuhin mo. Hwag yang “buko”. Magkano lang ba kikitain namin dyan?,” the critics said.
(Focus on the price of copra, not the “buko.” How much will we earn from “buko?”)
Well, here is our answer to the critics and to those who do not believe that the time has come for the coconut industry to veer away from its dependence on copra production for income generation from the coconut farms.
Thailand, ranked No. 9 in the world with only 216,000 hectares of coconut as compared to the Philippines which is Number 2 in the world with 3.5-million hectares, is reaping the rewards of being the pioneering country in stepping out of the coconut oil production business and getting into high-value coconut production.
Yesterday, in a green coconut processing and packaging factory in Ratchanburi, I was surprised to find out that Thailand’s green coconut, pealed and beautifully packaged, is now being supplied to Disneyland in Hongkong and China.
The factory that we visited yesterday was producing two containers of green coconuts for export or about 40,000 nuts everyday.
There are 90 other processing and packaging facilities in Ratchanburi Province alone and the green coconuts are shipped to almost all parts of the world.
Nicely wrapped and packaged, Thailand’s green coconuts are priced between 20 Baht to 60 Baht, depending on the size.
No wonder, the Thai coconut farmers do not care about the price of coconut oil in the world market.
Now, I hope those who look down at our proposal to develop the green coconut production program for our coconut farmers will realise that the idea is neither stupid nor foolish.
China and the United States of America have just opened their markets for our green coconuts. Let us go for it.
Again, it is a bit late but it is never too late.
(Photos and video by Agriculture Attache Nolet Fulgencio and Executive Asst. Mayette Tudlas.)
More Stories
Thank You, Dado, Alamada Vegetable Farmers!
1st Batch Of Spanish Goats Arriving End Of April!
Actual Farming Experience!