In crisis comes opportunities! DA TO DEVELOP 240 MODEL COCO FARMS

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has directed its regional offices to identify 20 coconut farms in each region which will be developed into Model Coconut Farms to showcase a multi-cropping system.

Each farm will have an area of one-hectare which when developed will serve as a learning center to be supervised by the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Agricultural Training Institute and the High Value Crops Program of the DA.

Farm owners will be assisted by the DA in growing other crops under the Coconuts to increase their income and to cushion the effect of fluctuating prices of coco products in the market.

Among the crops to be introduced are:

1. Sorghum both for feed grains and silage. This is a crop which will support the local hog and poultry industry and also promote cattle and goat raising because of the silage;

2. Abaca, a crop which is endemic in the Philippines and has a huge market demand. This crop grows well when partly shaded;

3. Coffee and Cacao, crops which the Philippines still imports because of the huge demand;

4. High Value vegetables which are adaptable to partly shaded areas.

The country has an estimated 3.5-million hectares of coconut farms most of which practice mono-cropping and dependent only on copra production.

The Coconut Diversified Farming System is expected to open new production areas for the crops listed above.

It will maximize the utilization of an estimated 3.5-million hectares thus increasing the country’s agricultural production.

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!

#NeverStopDreamingBelieving!

(This photo of a coconut farm with Abaca as second crop was submitted by DA Caraga Regional Director Abel James Monteagudo.)