DAVAO CITY — The provincial government of North Cotabato threw support to the coconut farmers to boost the production of coco sugar.
Governor Nancy A. Catamco in a meeting with the officers and members of the Provincial Coconut Industry Development Council (PCIDC) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAG) and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said it is time that the provincial government gives full support to the coconut farmers and provide a mechanism to support those who want to endeavor into coco sugar production.
Catamco who is the chairperson of the provincial council met with the group on October 6, saying that the government’s intervention is a must to capacitate the coco farmers to increase their production and at the same time produce the sought-after coco sugar.
Coco Harvesters “Mananggiti”, those who harvest the coco juice fresh from the bunch to produce coco sugar sought the intervention of the provincial government seeing the opportunity to increase their income in the midst of the health crisis.
Catamco immediately acted on the request of the coco harvesters and provided 20 boiling centers for the 60 coco sugar producers which cost P15,000 each.
The provincial government, Catamco said will also ask the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide technical support and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for the branding and marketing.
“We need to package your product to ensure quality products and good market,” Catamco told the producers. “Ang goal natin ay maging available ang coco sugar in every family in North Cotabato. Hindi lang tayo Coco producer, kundi Coco user din (Our goal is for every family in North Cotabato to avail coco sugar, we don’t stop as a producer but also coco-user.”
The meeting was attended by representatives from PCA and PCIDC and Coconut Farmers Federation President Leo Loreto.
Loreto’s group presented the Provincial Coconut Industry roadmap to Catamco, she vowed to revisit the plan and return the same after reviewing it.
Catamco said the provincial government will continue to provide fertilizers and coconut seedlings to the coco farmers.
In her message, Catamco said support for the coconut farmers is not limited to inputs and implements— it will also involve a technological transfer.
“We need to support those coconut farmers and our agricultural sector especially in this trying times to help them and cushion the economic impact of the health crisis,” she added.-Newsline.ph
