Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Industry Situationer

Industry Situationer Philippine based.

Based on the Crops Statistics of the Philippines 2014 - 2018. Coconut production grew marginally at an average annual rate of 0.1 percent from 2014 to 2018, from 14.70 million metric tons in 2014 to 14.73 million metric tons in 2018. Planting area and number of bearing trees showed rises at an annual average rate of 0.9 percent and 1.2 percent.

Coconut production in 2018 was 4.8 percent higher than the 2017 output of 14.05 million metric tons. At 13.1 percent, the Davao region had the highest share of total coconut production. Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, CALABARZON and ARMM accounted for a combined share of 45.0 percent with an accumulated production of 6.63 million metric tons.

With 485,19 thousand hectares, the largest area planted for coconut was at CALABARZON. This was followed by the Zamboanga Peninsula and Bicol Region, with contributions of 12.6 percent and 12.5 percent respectively to the total coconut planted area.

Thanks to its versatile uses, coconut is one of the most important crops in the world. Its Local wages and foreign exchange earnings  contribute significantly. The Philippines continues to be enjoying being one of the world's leading  suppliers of conventional copra meal goods, Enabled carbon & coco coir, coconut oil from a decreasing sector induced by the  unpredictable price of Copra recovered in the world economy, the  sector and the situation was reversed when  high-value products have been  made, enlarged and diversified. 

Among the goods that are currently  penetrating. The markets include virgin coconut oil, coconut methyl ether, coconut peat, coconut beverages, coconut food products, and things for crafts. Food products based on Coco are rapidly gaining awareness because of their health and Values of aesthetics. Not to mention the fact that individuals are now turning to more balanced and natural healthy foods.

Though coconut is one of the two commodities of agriculture that earns the country more than Each year, its huge potential to earn even more has never been exploited due to numerous problems bugging the industry. On average, the production of nuts was 13.8 million or 46 nuts per tree per year, a billion dollars in export revenues. While exports of coconut, mainly from processed products such as oil, are expected to increase this year, the enormous potential of the coconut industry has yet to be exploited and measures need to be placed in place to include poor farmers in order to benefit more from the crop.

What, then, bugs the local coconut industry?

The supply chain is largely unorganized and unorganized, in addition to low output per tree and aging trees.

Dispersed smallholdings that affect input supply, primary production and marketing economies of scale. Small production lots and elevated transport translate into high logistics costs, which impact both farmers and processors.

In the global scene, there are market threats from tariff and non-tariff barriers such as minimum residue levels and labeling regulations. Addressing low yields at the farm level can be an excellent move to helping realize the coconut industry’s potential as a bigger generator of export dollars. Obviously, the low yields are caused by poor genetics, nil fertilization, and limited replanting of tree stocks. Also 20 percent of coconut trees are already senile while most trees are planted in marginal lands that also affect yield. Meanwhile, large lands planted to the crop have low genetic potential.

My father is a coconut farmer, primary our source of income. As it is now, the country’s coconut industry can be called a “sick man” that really needs help. A lot of help, I must say!

References:

• Journals

S. Mapa & P. Bautista (2019). Crops statistics of the Philippines 2014-2018. Copyright © 2019 by Philippine Statistics Authority PSA Complex, East Avenue, Diliman Quezon City, Philippines 1101.

• Online Resources

Coconut industry. Retrieved from: https://davaooriental.gov.ph/invest/industry-profile-andinvestment-leads/coconut industry/#:~:text=Industry%20Background%2FSituationer&text=markets%20are%20virgin%20coconut%20oil,its%20health%20and%20aesthetic%20values. Copyright 2019 Province of Davao Oriental.[Accessed on, September, 2020]

Dr. W. Dar(2017). State of the PH coconut industry and what must be done. Retrieved from:https://www.manilatimes.net/2017/08/25/business/columnists-business/state-ph-coconut￾industry-must-done/346624/. [Accessed on, September, 2020]