To address low copra prices

LIFTING OF EXPORT BAN

ON COCONUTS MULLED

By Manny Piñol

The Governing Board of the Philippine Coconut Authority today proposed the lifting of the ban on the export of mature coconuts as one of the measures to address the low prices of copra in the country.

In a resolution passed during a special board meeting at the Office of the Agriculture Secretary in Quezon City today, the PCA Board asked the Inter-Agency Committee on Executive Order No. 1016 to lift the ban imposed by then President Ferdinand Marcos on March 25, 1985.

The lifting of the ban on the export of mature coconut was one of the three measures approved by the PCA Board to correct the depressed market price for Copra which has sank to P15 per kilo from a high of about P50 two years ago.

The two other measures were:

1. A resolution asking President Rody Duterte to direct the National Biofuels Board to implement the increase from 2% to 5% the Coconut Oil component of the diesel fuel;

2. A resolution approving the establishment of Coconut Processing Facilities to be owned and operated by Coconut Farmers Cooperatives to produce high value items like Virgin Coconut Oil, Coco Sugar, Coco Syrup, Coco Coir and others.

The PCA Board also approved an allocation of P300-M for the purchase of an Irradiation Equipment to be used in the processing of Coco Coir for export and also for other agricultural products.

There is a huge demand for Coco Coir abroad for use in Green House farming but most importing countries require that the materials are disinfected, a process which is effectively done using Irradiation Equipment.

The Coconut Industry has largely been controlled by big traders, Coconut Oil Mills and Coconut Processing Facilities who have dictated the market prices of Copra, the main produce of most Coconut farmers.

There are, however, many other high value products from Coconut and the establishment of the Farmers’ Cooperative owned processing facilities could democratize the industry and allow farmers to earn more.

#Changeishere!

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!

#TamaNaAngPangaapi!

(The first two photos were taken during the PCA Board meeting today while the last two photos were downloaded from public websites.