PATIKUL, Sulu- More than 60 coconut farmers attended the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Program (CFIDP) Information Caravan last February 9, 2023 at Sulu Area Coordination Center, Provincial Capitol, Patikul, Sulu.

The caravan's primary goal is to raise awareness about the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) and encourage farmers to participate in the various CFITF interventions.

CFIDP implementing agencies such as the Philippine Coconut Authority-BARMM and Sulu Province, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR)- Sulu, Ministry of Public Works (MPW), Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT), Cooperative Services and Enterprise Agency (CSEA), Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education-Technical Education Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD) and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) provided updates on their respective programs and interventions under CFIDP.

During the caravan, PCA-BARMM Acting Regional Manager Datumanong U. Pendi encouraged the coconut farmers to avail of the services under the CFIDP and take advantage of the program as this is the answer for the life-long plea of coconut farmers.

Meanwhile, ATI-RTC XII Center Director Abdul I. Daya-an emphasized to coconut farmers that they should register to the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS). “To be eligible to avail of the services under the various components of the CFITF, you should be listed in the DA-NCFRS”, he mentioned.

An Overview of the activity was delivered by Eng. Mokles Buisan, Training Specialist II and CFIDP Focal Person for BARMM. While PCA-BARMM PDO III Mr. Lester Jake Dela Cerna briefed the participants on the eight (

In addition to the interventions and programs, coco farmers also expressed their concerns and issues to implementing agencies during the open forum.

This CFIDP Information Caravan in Sulu was held through the strong partnerships and collaborations among ATI-RTC XII, PCA-BARMM and PCA-Tawi-Tawi headed by Division Chief I Ms. Nur-Aina Ingkagan along with its staff Agriculturist Mr. Alfahar Saiddi and Admin Assistant Karsum Sabiran.

This caravan is second among the nine (9) batches of caravans targeted for Region XII and BARMM. (JLA/ISS)