Copra processing center seen to help Guimaras’ coconut farmers

By John Noel E. Herrera

A White Copra Processing Center with complete modern facilities and equipment is set to open soon in Guimaras province, which will give the coconut farmers some training and technical assistance to boost their productivity and income.

On Tuesday, May 19, 2023, Governor JC Rahman Nava, together with Cong. Ma. Lucille Nava, other provincial government officials and representatives from the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) and Department of Agriculture (DA)-PhilMech led the groundbreaking ceremony of the P16.215 million White Copra Processing Center in Barangay Sapan, San Lorenzo, Guimaras.

Governor Nava said that through the project, the 458 farmer-members of the Guimaras Coconut Farmers Agricultural Cooperative will be capable of maximizing the full potential of coconut as a relevant commodity in the economic development of the province.

“This will be an added market sa aton coconut farmers. Magahatag ni sang option sa aton mangunguma and we are confident nga makahatag gid sang benepisyo sa ila in terms of increasing income kay naga provide kita sang steady and added market,” he said.

The facility, which has a processing capacity of 5,000 nuts per day, will also be managed by the coconut farmers cooperative, according to the governor.

Nava added that the project will improve price competitiveness while ensuring the quality of coconut products and product differentiation by utilizing cutting-edge facility machines through shared facilities.

He stressed that while Guimaras’ flagship commodity is mango, they also need to prioritize their other products, like coconut.

“It’s the number two biggest crop, ang number one is palay, two is coconut, and three is mango. Galing ang mango is our flagship commodity, so that is why kinahanglan ta man tatapon ang coconut industry,” he said.

Meanwhile, DA-PhilMech Interim Head of the Coconut Trust Fund Facility Management and Field Operations Division (CTF-FMFOD) Andres Tuates shared that the facility will maximize the production of raw materials by providing coconut farmers the opportunity to increase their income by giving a fair price for their products.

“Ang agreement natin sa province of Guimaras ay yung buying price po ng facilities must be P1 higher sa prevailing price para po maramdaman na kaagad ng farmers ang benefit. Kami po ay confident that the enterprise will offer premium quality coconut oil at a reasonable price and make it available in the local market of Guimaras,” Tuates also said.

He added that the facility, which is part of the CFIDP, will not only provide additional income for coconut farmers but also create more job opportunities for the community.

The CFIDP Act, also known as Republic Act 11524, is a 50-year program aimed at assisting the country’s coconut farmers as beneficiaries who are eligible will receive facilities that meet their needs.