The farmers in Central Luzon have immersed in the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) through a series of information caravans in March 2023.
Implemented in seven (7) selected municipalities in the region, the information caravanβs goal is to spread awareness among coconut farmers and stakeholders about CFIDP. The schedule is as follows:
- Dilasag, Aurora β March 2, 2023;
- Dinalungan, Aurora β March 7, 2023;
- Dipaculao, Aurora β March 9, 2023;
- Baler, Aurora β March 14, 2023;
- San Luis, Aurora β March 16, 2023;
- Cabangan, Zambales β March 21, 2023; and
- Dinalupihan, Bataan β March 23, 2023.
CFIDP aims to benefit 2.5 million coconut farmers and their families through its different program components. With its whole-of-government approach, several government agencies converged and facilitated the implementation of CFIDP in which the information caravan is part of it.
Participants expressed their optimism in the said program. Mr. Villamor Libag, farmer-leader from Dilasag, extended his gratitude for this new project.
βAko po ay nagpapasalamat sa proyektong ito at sa mga ahensya na bumubuo dito. Malaking pasasalamat naming mga coconut farmers dahil nagkaroon ng ganitong programa. Ito ay tunay na makakatulong sa bawat isa amin nawa ay magkaroon ito ng impact sa kabuhayan ng bawat magsasaka ng coconut,β Libag added.
CFIDP is comprised of various components to be realized by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and its partner agencies: 1. Social Protection; 2. Coconut Farmers Organization and Development; 3. Hybridization; 4. Community-based Farm Enterprise Development: Farm Rehabilitation and Improvement; 5. Integrated Coconut Processing and Downstream Products; 6. Innovative Research Projects and their Practical Application on Coconut Processing, Production, and Distribution; and 7. Support Services.
Together with PCA and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the following government agencies are involved in the implementation of the program: Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), PhilHealth, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Department of Science and Technology-PCAARRD (DOST-PCAARRD), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), National Dairy Authority (NDA), Department of Agriculture-HVCDP, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Following the implementation of information caravans this year, series of training programs on coconut will be conducted in the involved provinces.Β
