CFIDP: BOOSTING COCONUT PRODUCERS' COMPETITIVENESS

Aiming to improve the profitability and efficiency of the 2.5 million coconut farmers in the entire nation, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) plans to modernize and revitalize the Philippine coconut industry while promoting equitable society, educational opportunities, and poverty reduction.

The CFIDP is made up of several different components and initiatives, such as shared processing facilities, hybridization operations, intercropping activities, crop insurance, training and farm schools, health and medical, organization of cooperatives and associations, and scholarships. The Department of Agriculture (DA)-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) CALABARZON is one of the CFIDP's implementing agencies, and it works to successfully execute these extension services throughout Region IV-A.

To guarantee that trainings meet the actual needs of the agricultural sector and that research findings are subsequently disseminated to coconut farmers through the proper training and extension, the DA-ATI CALABARZON continues and improves the implementation of training for all agricultural extension workers, farmers, fisherfolks, and other AF clients.

Accordingly, under the supervision of Training Center Superintendent II, Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, the DA-ATI CALABARZON conducted a series of farmer-level trainings under the CFIDP for the region. Five (5) batches of Training on Native Chicken Production and Management were completed last October 2023, which was held in multiple towns within Quezon Province. The training course aims to equip the receivers of the dispersal with the necessary skills and knowledge to properly take care of and manage the native chickens that they will be receiving through the CFIDP program.

Meanwhile, to enhance the expertise and abilities of participants and encourage them to engage in coconut-cacao intercropping in their respective areas, three (3) batches of Training on Coconut-Cacao Farming System were carried out effectively and took place in various municipalities in Quezon and Laguna Province.

Through the persistence of Dr. Maningas to highlight the CFIDP program’s milestones, the culminating activity for the participants of the Training on Native Chicken Production and Management was held last November 6, 2023, at Ouan's The Farm Resort, Lucena City, Quezon. Similarly, participants of the Training on Coconut-Cacao Farming System also had a mass graduation last November 27, 2023, at Calungsod Integrated Farm, Tiaong, Quezon.

Concurrently, following the November training sessions, the Coconut Farm Business School's culminating activity entitled "Enriching Knowledge and Building-up Networks on Coconut Farm Business School (Farmer-level)” is set on December 13 and 14, 2023. Furthermore, the mass graduation for the Dairy Farm Operation Training for Cattle is scheduled for December 15, 2023.

Dr. Maningas assured that DA-ATI CALABARZON will keep providing cutting-edge services to further improve the livelihood of coconut growers. In order to cultivate a thriving, secure, and progressive coconut industry in the region, the Center keeps propelling coconut farmers to learn new things while keeping abreast of contemporary techniques and practices.