BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte – Fifty local coconut farmers here attended the information caravan for the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) on February 14, 2023 held at Charlie’s Dormitel in Brgy. Ongyiu this city.
The plan came about after former President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) Act in 2021. The fund is taken from coco levy assets which should be awarded to the coconut farmers as ruled by the Supreme Court in 2012. The plan was approved through Executive Order 172 which was signed on June 2, 2022.
The CFIDP sets to increase the income and productivity of Filipino coconut farmers which is now at 2.5 million. It will also help them and their family alleviate poverty, obtain an education, achieve social equity, as well as modernize the entire coconut industry.
Joel Oclarit, Regional Manager of the Philippine Coconut Authority – Caraga Region, emphasized the Hybridization component of CFIDP in which PCA and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will take the lead. Through this program, coconut farmers can avail of quality planting materials for free thereby improving their productivity and increasing their income.
Meanwhile, Fil Victor Babanto, Information Officer III of ATI-RTC 13, presented the program components of CFIDP. He also informed the participants about the training interventions to be offered by ATI under CFIDP for 2023. These include Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) for Coconut, Coconut-Coffee Farming System, Dairy Farm Operation and Management, Coconut Products and By-Products, Native Goat Production and Management, Native Chicken Production and Management, Milk Processing and Management, and School-on-the-Air (SOA) on Coconut Production.
Aside from PCA and ATI, other implementing agencies present during the information caravan were DTI, CDA, PCIC, PhilMech, NDA, and TESDA. Also in attendance were representatives from the City/Municipal Agriculture Office in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte.
