For decades, the life of a small coconut farmer may have been like the biblical road to Calvary – a walk filled with agony. First, they did not benefit from the coco levy imposed on them in the 70s.  Second, were the super typhoons Yolanda and Odette which destroyed not only vast coconut areas but also the livelihood of thousands of farmers. The third is the lack of material, technical, and financial support such as fertilizers, credit, training, crop insurance, marketing assistance, machinery, infrastructure, and many more. As a result, coconut farmers remained the poorest in the industry despite devoting their whole lives to a crop considered high value and the “tree of life.”

Fortunately, coconut farmers are now on the road where hope is within sight. Thanks to the approval of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), the government now has a roadmap to help alleviate poverty experienced by our small coconut farmers. Approved on June 2, 2022 through Executive Order 172, the CFIDP was the result of the signing of Republic Act 11524, otherwise known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.

Among the hopeful and excited coconut farmers anticipating the full implementation of CFIDP is Restituto Asube, a retired soldier, farmer-leader, Barangay Kagawad, and Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) cooperator from Butuan City. Below is the excerpt from our interview with him in his residence and farm in Barangay Taguibo.

Q:  What made you decide to go into coconut farming?

Asube: Nag dako mi nga nag-uma og lubi. Akong amahan ug inahan, napa eskwela mi pinaagi sa lubi. Sa among buyer sa lubi pud mangutang ang akong inahan para mapa-eskwela mi. Ug kaluy-an man, iyang napulo ka anak naka graduate tanan gumikan sa lubi. Pag retire nako isip usa ka sundalo, out of my retirement nga gamay akong nakuha, ako gyung gipalit ug kalubihan ug yuta. Mao ang ako pung gihatagan ug bili nga mahimo syang demo farm ug naa makita na ang baboy, fish pond, kanding. Diha pud ko naka paeskwela ug dugang sa akong mga anak ug sa uban nga dili nako anak.  (We grew up farming coconuts. My father and mother were able to send us to school through coconuts. My mother would borrow money from our coconut buyer so that we can go to school. Thank God, all ten of us siblings were able to finish schooling. When I retired as a soldier, out of my retirement, I bought a piece of land and a coconut area. I really gave much importance to develop it into a demo farm where we can see pigs, fish pond, and goats. It is also through the coconuts that I was able to send my children and others to school.)

Q:  What benefits can we get from coconuts and coco products?

Asube: Sa nakita nako sa akong pag attend ug seminars, ang mga health benefits kung maka-inom ka sa VCO muhamis imong kutis, dili kaayo maka sulod ang sakit nga Alzheimer’s, ug daghan pang uban. Dili pud ka prone sa cardiac arrest. (From what I saw when I attended seminars, some of the health benefits if you drink VCO is that your skin will become smooth, you won't get Alzheimer’s disease, and many more. Also, you are not prone to cardiac arrest.)

Q:  How did you know about CFIDP?

Asube: Ang programa sa CFIDP nabasa nako sa social media. Akong gi take note, unya pila ka adlaw naay text message nga mu-attend ko ug info caravan sa Jabonga. Sunod, naa na pud didto sa Buenavista. So gwapo kaayo kini nga programa kay dili lang ang farmer naay insurance, lakip pud ang lubi ug kahayupan. Apil na ang ATI nga maghatag ug mga trainings. Duol ra sa amo ang ATI mao nang pag-adto nako nakaingon ko nga ingon ani diay ang training sa ATI. Nindot ang accommodation ug pagdumala. Mas ma-attract ang mga farmers sa CFIDP kay naa pud ang mga line agencies. Ma-feel sa mga farmers nga gitutokan gyud sila sa gobyerno ug aron mapa-kusog ang coconut industry. (I read about CFIDP through social media, I took note of it, then a few days later I received a text message that I will attend the info caravan in Jabonga. Next, there was again in Buenavista. So, this program is really very nice because not only the farmer has insurance, but also the coconut and livestock. ATI is also included in the program in the provision of trainings. ATI is near to us that is why when I went there, I said to myself, so this is what training is like. The accommodation and management are great. The farmers will be more attracted to CFIDP because the line agencies are there. The farmers will feel that the government is really focusing on them and determined in strengthening the coconut industry.)

Q:  Among the CFIDP interventions, which for you is the most important for the farmers?

Asube: Tanan man importante. Ang health og scholarship gikinahanglan gyud sa among pamilya labi na nga aging na pud ang mga farmers og halos wala nay panggasto para sa tambal og pagpa-eskwela sa mga anak. Numbero uno sab ang insurance ug ang mga livelihood projects dili pud pwede nga mawala. (Everything is important. Health and scholarship are really needed in our family, especially since the farmers are aging and have almost no money left for medicine and education for their children. Insurance is also number one while the livelihood projects cannot be put aside.)

Q:  Don’t you have any doubts about CFIDP?

Asube: Sa akong nakita karon, klaro na gyud ang CFIDP. Mao na ni ang gipa-abot sa pipila na ka tuig. Karon naa nay pundo kay gi-download na kini sa mga ahensya. Nigawas na gyud ang kwarta. Mao na gyud ni ang makapalig-on og makapabalik sa coconut industry sa atong nasud. Gumikan pud niini, ma ingganyo na pud ang uban nga magtanum ug lubi kay naa pay mga lugar nga wala pay kalubin-an. (From what I can see now, I am certain about CFIDP. This is what we have been waiting for for many years. Funds are now downloaded to the agencies. The money is already out. This is what will strengthen and restore the coconut industry in our country. Through this, others will be encouraged to plant coconuts because there are still areas where coconuts can be grown.)

Q:  What advice can you give to your fellow farmers?

Asube: Mag intercrop unta sila sa ilang kalubin-an. I-diversify nila ilang farm para maka produce pa ug daghan ug mutaas pa gyud ang ilang kita. Ang atong mga farm wastes dapat himuon natong organic fertilizer. Aron mabalik ang katambok sa yuta sa atong uma, mu-doble pa gyud atong produksyon. Kita nga mga farmers ipadayon ang pagpalambo sa atong kalubin-an, mag-dugang pa gyud ta, mag extend sa lain nga mga areas, ug tamnan gyud nato. Ang atong pagkugi dili lang sa atong henerasyon pero sa musunod pa nga mga katuigan. Mukusog pa gyud ning coconut industry labi na nga natutukan na gyud ni karon. Hopefully, kita nga mga farmers dili gyud ta maluya og padayon lang gihapon ta kay naa na ang pundo. Kita ang angayng muduol sa mga ahensya. Dili ta magpaabot nga ang ahensya na ang muanhi sa ato. Ayuhon nato atong grupo, lig-onon nato og padaghanon. Kay aduna pay mas daghang opportunity nga muabot kanato. Hinaut unta nga kita nga mag-uuma, magpadayon sa atong paningkamot. Go, go lang gyud ta permi. (They should practice intercropping in their coconut area. They should diversify their farm to produce more and increase their income. Our farm wastes should be turned into organic fertilizer to restore the fertility of the soil and increase production. Let’s continue developing our coconut area, increase it, extend to other areas, and plant more. The fruits of our hard work is not only for this generation but for the years to come. The coconut industry will continue to grow, especially now that it is given much importance. Hopefully, our farmers will not weaken and will continue to strive because the funds are here. Let us seek help from the agencies. Let us not wait for agencies to come to us. Let us manage well our group. Strengthen it and let it grow. Because there will be more opportunities coming our way. Hopefully, we will continue with our efforts. Let’s keep going.)