It may be a bit late but I am catching up on the newest market trend by propagating and planting the high value coconut variety known as “Buko Pandan.”
The “Buko Pandan” is one of the many aromatic coconut varieties grown by Filipino farmers whose real origin is stll debated on.
Some accounts say the original dwarf aromatic coconut came from Indonesia and spread towards the Asia-Pacific Region while others claim that the modern aromatic coconut is a product of research and development made in Thailand.
The “Buko Pandan” variety which I am propagating now originally came from Thailand and was perpetuated by the late Alex Mancilla in the Matling Farms in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
In recent years until his passing a few months ago, Alex had generously shared the “Buko Pandan” planting materials and I am one of the lucky ones who was given the privilege of acquiring them.
The “Buko Pandan” bears nuts in three years and at 67, I imagine I would still be able to sip its aromatic and sweet water and feast on its tender meat at age 70 onwards.
More than that, however, the most enticing part is the prospect of riding on and catching up on the latest market demand for aromatic and sweet young coconuts.
In Matling, one Buko Pandan young nut sells for P35, the Serquiña Family of Kidapawan City sell their Sweet Coconut for P25 each while my friend, Rey Quisumbing of Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur sells his young Sweet Coconut in his Sayao Resort for P30.
Imagine this: With a population of 140 coconuts in one hectare and each would yield 200 young nuts every year at P25 per nut, that is a whooping P700,000 earnings per hectare.
It is then no wonder that the selling price of the seedlings of Buko Pandan and other Sweet Coconut varieties ranges from P500 to as high as P1,000 per seedling.
So, even at my age, I am starting to plant Buko Pandan because evenif I don’t live long enough to fully enjoy its benefits, my children and grandchildren and my grandchildren’s children will surely enjoy the blessings and they will remember their grandfather.
Remember, coconut is a “three generaton” plant.
#NeverStopPlanting!
#PlantForTheFuture!
(This video was taken by Joyce Tupas.)
https://fb.watch/aBQxDCp3Wu/
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