Agriculture.ph Blog

Lanao farmers train on coco sugar production

TUBOD and Sultan Naga Dimaporo farmers underwent one-day training at the Lanao Aquamarine Fisheries Center for Community Development (Lafccod) office in Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte.

Tubod, Lanao del Norte Coconut sugar production has been found to be a viable source of income for coconut farmers aside from the natural and nutritional value coconut sugar contain.

Based on market research and feasibility studies conducted, the demand for coco sugar is high and finished products are purchased at P115.00 per kilo.

By the product’s market potential, the Provincial Cooperative Office Golden Arrow Vision of Life Foundation Inc. Executive Director Leah Yap and Lafccod advocate coco sugar production to farmers and other residents as well those interested in venturing into business as alternative livelihood.

Coco sugar is beneficial to the health conscious and diabetics because it is discovered to be the best substitute for sweeteners, it contains essential vitamins and amino acids as well as macro and micronutrients.

The raw coconut sugar granules are dark brown in color like the moscuvado sugar from sugarcane.

Source: Sun Star

Coco sugar a hit at trade fair

Coco sugar and other organic products from Lanao del Norte sold like the proverbial hotcake at the 2009 National Livelihood Trade Fair at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City under the auspices of the Philippine Chamber of Handicrafts, Inc. and the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc.

Besides coco sugar, the other organic products from Lanao del Norte included honeymansi with pineapple, honeymansi concentrate plain, pineapple marmalade, bangus in corn oil packed in glass container, coco honey and coconut vinegar which are all manufactured without any preservatives.

A lot of people bought the coco sugar although the price is much higher than the sugar from sugarcane. The coco sugar is in the form of fructose which is superior healthwise compared to the sucrose in the ordinary sugar from sugarcane.

Former Gov. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte explained that the relatively high price of coco sugar is due to the fact that it requires much more effort and hard work to make. The sap of the unopened flowers (toddy) is extracted from the coconut tree which is cooked to make coco sugar.

Coco sugar is in demand not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. It is now exported to countries in Europe as well as Korea and Japan. There are also other producers of this unique product in Misamis Oriental.

Congressman Abdullah “Bobby” Dimaporo (2nd district, Lanao del Norte) has been very supportive to agricultural production, not only in farm crops but also in livestock. In fact, he has been responsible for putting up the biggest dairy cow operation in the country. Lately, he imported more than 2,000 Savanna goats from Australia for commercial production by farmers in his province.

Lanao del Norte, by the way, tops the list of growing economies with a gross domestic product growth of 5.3 percent in 2008, the highest among the regions during the period.

Written by Danny Junco

Source: Manila Bulletin

Coco Water Prolongs Freshness of Vegetables

Use coconut water instead of formalin (formaldehyde) in prolonging the freshness of vegetables.

The use of coconut water is simpler, safer, and more economical use than using formalin, which may scare vegetable buyers.

In a demonstration by researchers at the College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños (CA-UPLB), stringbeans dipped in fresh coconut water for at least two minutes stayed fresh and marketable even up to four days after harvest.

The shriveling or drying of the beans was also reduced.

The CA-UPLB researchers said that the coconut water contains cytokinins or hormones responsible for retaining the green color (chlorophyll) of stringbean pods. (BPG)

PFN No. 6481 July-Septeber 2004

Source: CocoScope, July-September 1999.

Coco bread, anyone?

MANILA, Philippines – Acknowledging the Philippines as one of the largest coconut producing countries in the world, Julie’s Bakeshops has signed an agreement with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to come up with a healthy alternative in making bread.

“The recent increase in flour prices has encouraged bakeshops to look for alternatives that result in the same quality that flour provides in baking bread,” George Abando, Julie’s Bakeshops national sales and marketing manager.

“Some bakeshops have adjusted the sizes of their products to make it still affordable to the Filipino consumers. What you have as a result are either more expensive breads of the same size or the smaller breads at the same price,” Abando explained.

Because of this, Julie’s and PCA came up with a coco-based flour to replace the more expensive imported flour.

Abando said the initial batch of flour was tested for several bread products in the Julie’s commissary and the result was fluffier, heavier, and more nutritious bread.

Julie’s has already introduced the coco-flour based bread products in its selected outlets nationwide and gained an instant following, according to the bakeshop’s franchisees.

Its pan de sal type bread is now available for as low as P2 in singles or packs of 10, Abando said.

Because of its widely popular reception, the coco-based bread product was offered to various local government units as a healthy alternative for public schools’ feeding program.

Abando said Quezon City was the first to give it to school children for its Strong and Bright Feeding Program.

Julie’s Bakeshops is now offering similar arrangements to other local government units as part of its corporate social responsibility program of providing healthier bread for Filipinos.

“We wanted our consumers to have the same level of satisfaction with the products that we have been providing them,” Abando said.

Source: Philippine Star

Of coconut milk and chilies

Some like it hot. Bicolanos like it even hotter — and creamy.

Freshly squeezed coconut milk and piping hot chilies are the two most essential ingredients in almost every dish this southernmost part of the island of Luzon has to offer.

Aside from Mayon volcano — a fitting symbol — Bicol is also famous for its laing, gabi (taro) leaves cooked in coconut milk, bagoong (shrimp paste), chilies and dried dilis; pinangat, fish wrapped in gabi leaves and cooked in coconut milk, ginger, and garlic; and of course, Bicol express, diced pork cooked in coconut milk with a ton of chilies.

In this part of the country, where food is a common language, there are a lot of good food places that offer authentic Bicolano cuisine. Whether it be in a small carinderia in a barrio or a much fancier restaurant in the city center, there’s always a place to go for a good fill of Bicolandia fare.

One such place is Bob Marlin Restaurant, a highly recommended place by locals and even the city’s highest officials.

According to owner and cook Cristina Palma, none other than Naga City’s mayor, Jesse Robredo frequents their restaurant. Just recently the cast of a foreign reality show, shooting in the province of CamSur dined in the restaurant and according to her they loved the food.

Written by Angelo B. Garcia

Source: Manila Bulletin

VCO FOR COOKING. One good news is that Carica, the company of Ramon Tan, has come up with virgin coconut oil for culinary purposes. It now produces 3,000 liters a day. Under its process, fresh coconut is immediately converted into a virgin oil, thus avoiding the build up of unhealthy microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that cause aflatoxin, a known cause of cancer.

Website: http://www.caricaworldwide.com/

PITC asks govt permission to import copra products

THE Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) disclosed that the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) is asking the national government to allow the company to bring in imported copra.

The PITC is a chartered and government-owned international trading organization which provides outsourcing, export consolidation, logistics solutions, supply-chain management and import, as well as marketing of a wide range of commodities, products and services.

PCA deputy administrator Carlos Carpio said the PITC is planning to buy copra from Manado in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Solomon Islands and Samoa.

“They approached me asking if we could facilitate the issuance of an importation permit. Apparently they are seeking to import copra to fill in their requirements,” Carpio said.

However, Carpio said the PCA may turn down the request of the PITC or any private company looking to import copra because it may “tarnish” the Philippines’ image as the “world’s biggest copra producer and exporter.”

Carpio said there is no shortage of semiprocessed coconut in the Philippines. He said the PITC may only be looking for a cheaper source of copra.

“I suggest we use up all of our local produce before we import,” he said.

“Personally, I think the PITC is planning to import copra not just to fill in an apparent shortage in their inventory, but to go into biodiesel production. If this is the case, there is no way for us to monitor how they utilize the copra,” Carpio said.

The official said, nonetheless, that the PITC was not the first to attempt to import copra. Carpio said even the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) group, during the time of then- administrator Danilo Coronacion, attempted to import copra.

The PCA is the sole government agency that has the authority to import copra and other coconut products.

Local coconut production in 2009 is expected to rise 5.4 percent to 2.516 million metric tons (MT) in copra terms, from 2008’s 2.386 million MT output.

However, coconut export in 2009 may reach 1.619 million MT in copra terms, a shade or 0.8 percent lower from the prior year estimated at 1.632 million MT due to negative growths from coconut oil (CNO) and oleo-chemical export.

CNO and oleo chemical may contract 7 percent to 835,000 MT from 840,547 MT, and 9 percent to 80,000 MT from 87,952 MT, respectively.

Written Written by Cai U. Ordinario

Source: Business Mirror

Coco leaf beetle parasite found

A husband and wife team at the Philippine Coconut Authority’s Davao Research Center in Davao City has discovered an indigenous wasp that could help control the spread of the destructive coconut leaf beetle called Brontispa longissima. This is an introduced pest that has wreaked havoc on coconut trees in 255 towns in 44 provinces throughout the country. No less than 1.5 million coconut trees have been affected by the pest as of February 2009.

The two researchers are Ma. Cynthia Gallego and husband Vivencio. Cynthia is the division chief of the Crop Protection Division of the PCA’s research center in Davao City where Vivencio also works as Scientist 1.

The indigenous wasp (still unidentified) has been observed to feed on the pupae of the Brontispa beetle, thus preventing their hatching into adults. The wasp (they call it parasitoid) is now being multiplied and disseminated to coconut producing provinces.

Ven related that they had observed the wasp to be feeding on some of the pupae of the Brontispa beetle in the field so they brought some to the laboratory for observation as well as for experimentation. They observed that the unidentified wasp can be effective in preventing the proliferation of the Brontispa beetle.

What’s good about this new parasitoid is that it is easy to multiply. Multiplication could be undertaken by the farmers themselves in the different parts of the country. Multiplication is fast because in a life cycle of 20 days, one female parasitoid can produce 150 to 250 eggs. Each of these eggs will hatch and will each produce again 150 to 250 eggs.

The procedure is simple enough. The main materials needed are wide-mouth bottles that have to be covered with recycled lady’s stockings so the insects can breathe inside but will not be able to get out unless released.

One has to collect pupae from infested unopened coconut leaves. Put 20 pupae inside the bottle and 10 to 15 parasitoids. The parasitoids will feed on the pupae and lay their eggs there. In seven to 15 days, the eggs will hatch and would be ready for release in the target coconut plantations.

The wasps will then parasitize the Brontispa pupae, lay their eggs there which will eventually hatch and will further parasitize many more Brontispa pupae in the coconut plantations.

Written by Zac Sarian

Source: Manila Bulletin

Philippines: Govt to extend more than P1B for coconut industry

The coconut industry will receive more funding from the government this year after P800 million has been released for programs for the coconut industry such as participatory coconut planting, copra processing, and pest management.

Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) president Jesus Arranza said support would surpass P1 billion as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants “to increase coconut yield or give the farmers alternative livelihood during period of shortage.”

CIIF, which owns five coconut oil milling and refining companies, coordinates with the Philippine Coconut Authority to create programs that will increase coconut farmers’ income and improve their lives.

“CIIF has been in this coco oil business for so long but all it has ever produced are edible and crude coconut oil. The opportunity has been there all along; all it needs is just a little push here and there. I pray to be able to effect a few positive changes,” he said.

CIIF, which is looking at entering biodiesel arrangements with oil companies, is planning to raise as much as P1 billion to build its own biodiesel plant.

It will firm up details of its toll contract agreement with Atson Coco Inc. for biodiesel production as the Laguna-based company will initially produce 50 liters of biodiesel every day.

CIIF will extend its crude coco oil supply agreement with Flying V, which plans to export coconut methyl esther (CME).

“For as long as I’m in charge, I will find a niche for other sectors who want to partner with CIIF,” he said.

Source: gmanews.tv

Philippines: Coconut group spends P800M for projects

The Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) Oil Mills Group spent about P800 million for coconut development projects last year, the head of the group said last week.

“In this planting and re-planting project of the CIIF, we helped [grow seedlings in] 233 nursery sites,” newly elected CIIF President Jesus L. Arranza told reporters, adding that each nursery cost P2 million.

Since the start of the project in September last year to end-June, the CIIF planted 29.18 million seedlings in 291,842 hectares, of which 6.884 million seedlings were under a “participatory planting project” with the Philippine Coconut Authority, a report from the CIIF showed.

Meanwhile, about P14.03 million were spent for a coconut and corn intercropping project in 14,038 hectares.

Source: bworldonline.com