Department of Agriculture, PH Coconut Authority optimistic about the agricultural sector

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and its affiliated agency, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), celebrated their anniversaries in June with optimism that the country’s agriculture sector will have a bright future despite recent challenges stemming from climate change and geopolitical conflicts.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. thanks all members of the agency during the opening ceremony of the 126th anniversary of its founding on June 24, 2024. PHOTO FROM DA WEBSITE

DA kicked off its 126th anniversary celebration on June 25, with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. expressed gratitude to the entire DA for their dedication and commitment to serving the country’s farmers and fishermen. Laurel said, “As we celebrate the DA’s anniversary, it is important that we remember our significant role in making the Philippines progressive and resilient. I would also like to pay tribute to all of you in the DA family who have served and continue to serve the country’s farmers and fishermen and other stakeholders in the country’s agricultural sector.” “Let everyone remember that you stand behind the district attorney’s achievements. In my 8 months as Secretary of Agriculture, I have witnessed first-hand the dedication and professionalism in the way you all work. Thank you all for your support,” Laurel added. The agriculture chief urged DA family members to continue to do everything in their power and support his leadership in the implementation of various projects, in particular the 4-year action plan, which aims, among others, modernization of the agricultural sector in the country. Despite the challenges faced last year, the DA reported that the country achieved record unmilled rice production in 2023 of 20.06 million metric tons (MT). The tax authority also predicted that year-end rice stocks would be much higher at 3.64 million tonnes and that the impact of El Niño on rice production would be less pronounced than initially expected. U-Nichols Manalo, deputy secretary for operations, said the projected volume is approximately equivalent to 93 days of domestic rice consumption, exceeding the 1.9 million tons recorded in December 2023. Manalo, also director of the DA’s National Rice Program, said when Philippine Atmospheric, The Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration declared the end of El Niño on June 7. Only 191,233 tonnes of rice, or about 2 percent of the target of 9.2 million tonnes at the end of the dry harvest season, have been reported so far as damaged. The national rice stock represented the total amount of rice available in the country during a given period after subtracting demand from various sectors such as food consumption, waste, and other uses. This inventory included both locally produced and imported rice. It served as a key indicator in assessing food security and planning rice-related agricultural and trade policies. If the DA’s year-end forecast for domestic rice stocks is realized, stocks at the end of 2024 will be the highest in at least 15 years, reaching 3.42 million tonnes in 2010.

PCA celebrates its 51st year

Meanwhile, PCA celebrated its 51st anniversary from June 2 to June 27, which also held a 3-day mini fair called “NIYOGosyo sa Kadiwa” that started at the DA-PCA Indoor Court in Diliman, Quezon City. In her message, DA Undersecretary for High Value Crops Cheryl Marie NatividadCaballero highlighted the new level of strengthening the coconut industry through rural development, adding the importance of technological support from the 15 agencies working for the farmer development program and the coconut industry. “Under the leadership of Secretary of Agriculture Francisco Tiu Laurel, we, the DA, extend our warmest greetings to our farmers, PCA and the coconut industry. We all demonstrate the importance and contribution of the coconut industry to the overall economy through farm operations and exports,” she said. Natividad-Caballero highlighted that the coconut industry contributed P3.2 billion in exports to the national economy. For his part, PCA Administrator Dexter Respicio Buted assured that the agency’s massive coconut planting and replanting project is being implemented across the country in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s commitment. to achieve the goal of planting 100 million coconut trees by 2028. “We have already planted about 2 million (coconut seedlings) (last year) and this year we are targeting 8.4 million,” he said, adding that the majority will be planted in the Visayas and Mindanao areas due to the adaptation of the soil and climate. He further said that the PCA is demanding an increased budget for the PCA fertilizer program to boost coconut production or a P2.4 billion budget that could increase nut productivity by 15 percent. “In the first year we will have a 15 percent increase in yields. And next year it will be a 20 and then 25 percent increase in yields,” Buted said. He said massive planting and replanting along with increased productivity will help the Philippines regain its position as a major coconut exporter in the next 5 to 10 years. “If this is our attitude, we will really restore the faith that the Philippines will be the number one producer in the coconut industry,” Buted said. To date, the Philippines was the world’s second-largest coconut exporter, after Indonesia and ahead of India. Marcos was keen for the Philippines to become the world’s largest coconut exporter, seeing it as an excellent opportunity to contribute to the country’s continued overall economic growth.