JORDAN, Guimaras – Coconut farmers in Guimaras converged at the provincial covered gym in Barangay San Miguel here to celebrate the 22nd Kalubihan Festival on Aug. 18.
The activity was in line with the 36th National Coconut Week celebration which opened on Aug. 15 with the theme, “Masaganang Niyugan: Katuwang Tungo sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan”.
The highlight of the celebration wais the launching of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) for Western Visayas.
The CFIDP will serve as the compass for the effective implementation of the Republic Act 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.
Under such plan are programs that will fuel the growth of the coconut industry and lift coconut farmers out of poverty.
These programs include social protection for the farmers, coconut farmers organization and development, hybridization, community-based farm enterprise development (Farm rehabilitation and improvement), integrated coconut processing and downstream products (shared facilities), support services, innovative research projects (practical Application on Coconut Processing, Production and Distribution), and monitoring and evaluation.
Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) deputy administrator Roel Rosales said that the celebration is a tribute to the coconut industry that contributes greatly to the country’s economy.
He said that coconut is the leading dollar earner in the agricultural sector due to the coconut oil that is exported in which the Philippines dominates the market.
Rosales challenged the coconut farmers in Guimaras to raise the level of production and like the island’s famous mango, he hopes that coconut products from Guimaras will also be exported to other countries./PN
