DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) XI is working on coconut hybridization to strengthen the coconut industry in Davao region by improving the sector’s productivity, resilience, and competitiveness.

Anchored on PCA XI Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), the coconut hybridization program seeks to address the shortage of coconut seedlings for Planting and Replanting Program, enhance coconut production by doubling the current yields, and develop and promote coconut hybrids that are resilient to water stress, diseases, and pests.

PCA XI focuses on the coconut hybridization program to address production issues in the region, and in turn, help farmers gain a better footing in the industry.

The initiative is also in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to PCA to intensify the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), invest in new technologies and initiatives to ensure the resilience of the coconut sector, and uplift the living conditions of coconut farmers.

“So, the PCA must intensify the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan to accelerate the modernization of the coconut industry and to improve the lives of our coconut farmers and their families,” President Marcos said during the 50th anniversary celebration of the PCA, June 29, 2023.

The President added, “So, let us double our efforts to tackle these issues and invest in technologies and initiatives that will not only safeguard but also ensure the resilience of the coconut sector of our agriculture.”

Davao Region is the top coconut producer in the country, measuring 487.10 thousand metric tons or 15.0 percent of the total coconut production of the country, a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for the first quarter of 2023 showed.

Based on the PCA-XI data in 2019, Davao Region has a total of 912 coconut-producing barangays. There is a total of 31,000,536 trees bearing coconuts, 15,112,200 non-bearing coconut trees, 5,974,095 senile trees, and a total of 473,223.73 hectares of land area with coconut trees. 

Regional Manager Juvy Alayon of PCA XI said that coconut production in the region is progressing slowly, evident by the milling facilities and other processors operating under their capacity.

“Karon halos tanang mga mills diri… short sa ilahang capacity, they are operating, ang uban is naa sa 60 percent, 70 percent lang sa ilahang capacity (At present, almost all mills here (are) under their capacity, they are operating, others at around 60 percent or 70 percent of their capacity),” she noted, hence, the hybridization program is seen as the potential solution to increase production to meet the industry's demands.

She explained that the hybridization program is an innovation introduced by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), which primarily involves a process of combining the best coconut varieties to produce superior hybrids that grow faster, produce more fruits, and resilient to diseases and pests.
 
Alayon said, “kung hybrid ang itanom sa farmer, kung sa ordinary niya nga lubi is naga produce lang ‘sya kada bulan og 1000 ka bunga, sa hybridization, kung hybrid ang itanom, nag-expect ta nga mag 125 percent ‘sya iyahang makuha, more than doble pa sa iyahang production (If a farmer plants a hybrid, if his ordinary coconut only produces 1000 fruits per month, with hybridization, if he plants a hybrid (coconut), we expect that he will get 125 percent, more than double his production).”

From the implementation of the said program in the region last year, they are expecting to harvest their first hybrid coconuts on a farm in Tacunan, Davao City by November this year.
 
To further intensify the said program, they are anticipating the opening of other hybrid coconuts farms in Toril in Davao City, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental.

Currently, she said they are looking for more coconut farms with qualified coconut trees (mother palms) of superior variety to rent for three pesos per tree per day to expand the said program.

“Among target na number of mother palms na arkilahan is naa sa mga 2,500 ka punoon nga lubi nga diha mag produce og hybrid na ipang hatag nga libre sa qualified nga mga farmers (Our target number of mother palms to be rented is around 2,500 coconut trees where hybrids will be produced and will be distributed to qualified farmers for free),” she added

Alayaon said that the increase in production caused by hybridization means lesser labor costs and higher revenue for coconut farmers.

“(Because of hybridization) dili na kaayu ma-feel sa farmer nga mubo ang presyo kung mi-doble ang iyang production ((Because of hybridization) farmers will no longer feel that the price is low when his production has doubled),” she added.

On the other hand, Alayon said PCA XI has continued to provide shared-coconut facilities to various qualified coconut farmer’s associations in Davao region. The Agency recently led a groundbreaking of a facility in Panabo, and will groundbreaker another facility in Baganga.

Based on 2019 data, PCA XI has provided nine shared-coconut facilities for virgin coconut oil production, six for coco sugar production, 14 for coir production, 39 for Coir + Coconut Coir Based Organic Fertilizer (CCBOF) production, 26 facilities for Kukum dryer, Brick kilin, hand tractor, and two facilities for coco shell handicraft to various qualified coconut farmers cooperatives and organizations across Davao region.

She added that they are supporting various research and innovations concerning the coconut industry in Davao region, recently they are looking into a mechanized coconut harvester introduced by the University of Southeastern Philippines and actively supporting the ongoing studies in Albay Research Center on Somatic Embryogenesis or coconut cloning.

Meanwhile, Alayon said they are fast-tracking the National Coconut Farmers’ Registry System (NCFRS) in the region to ensure that all coconut farmers can avail of PCA’s programs such as crop insurance, training, scholarships, and health and medical programs for farmers and their families.

As of November 2020, PCA XI registered a total of 266,593 coconut farmers and farmworkers in Davao region.

With the developments in the coconut industry in the region, PCA XI is optimistic that the industry will reach a new height in the coming years. (ASO - PIA Region XI)