An inventor who exports processed coconut products to South Korea has called on the Department of Agriculture to divert more attention in strengthening coconut production to improve the livelihood of farmers in the Davao region.
Virgilio Sugatan said the DA should channel more resources into encouraging farmers to grow more high-yielding and fast-growing coconut trees.
“I have nothing against palm production but coconut production is already showing us the limitless opportunities that await producers and entrepreneurs,” he said.
He said this is because coconut and its by-products are shaping up as prime export commodities for such countries like South Korea and Europe.
He cited the case of coconut virgin oil, a by-product of coconut, that has in fact earned a niche in the South Korean market as a base for its cosmetics industry.
“Activated carbon is also one by-product that is in demand abroad,” he said.
He said the baking industry and the soap-making industry rely heavily on coconuts as major component for their products.
Sagutan and a South Korean company have recently forged a joint venture agreement for the operation of a plant in Carmen, Davao del Norte that would supply 20 tons of virgin coconut oil to Seoul.
He said that for this reason alone, coconut-producing areas should be encouraged to plant more coconut trees.
“But in addition to coconuts, farmers should be shown the way in practicing integrated farming by intercropping their coconuts with vegetables, roots crops (especially yellow ginger), and fruit trees like coffee and cacao as well as bananas,” he said.
He said the vegetables and roots crops will bring instant income to farmers while the bananas and fruit trees will bring in additional income in between.
He said a sure-fire intercrop is the planting of calamansi as well as Malunggay (a source of morenda powder) that are also in demand in the export market.
“Farmers should not be left clue-less on the opportunities and benefits that await them by increasing their coconut hectarage and practicing inter-cropping as well,” he said.
