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.

DA kicked off its 126th anniversary celebration on June 25, when Secretary of Agriculture 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 anniversary, it is important that we remember our significant role in making the Philippines progressive and resilient. And let me pay tribute to all of you in the DA family who have served and continue to serve the country’s farmers and fishermen, as well as other stakeholders in the country’s agricultural sector.” “Let all of you remember that you stand behind DA’s achievements. In my 8 months as Secretary of Agriculture, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and professionalism in the way you all work. Thank you for the support you have given,” Laurel added. The agriculture chief urged DA family members to continue to do their best and support his leadership in implementing various projects, especially the 4-year action plan that aims to modernize the country’s agricultural sector, among others. Despite the challenges faced last year, DA reported that the country achieved record palay (unmilled rice) production in 2023 of 20.06 million metric tons (MT). Additionally, DA projected year-end rice stocks at a much higher level of 3.64 million MT, with the impact of El Niño on palay production less pronounced than initially expected. Assistant Secretary for Operations U-Nichols Manalo said the projected volume was equivalent to about 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 that when the Philippine Administration The Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Commission announced the end of El Niño on June 7, with only 191,233 tonnes of rice, or about 2 percent of the 9.2 million tonnes targeted, ending the dry harvest season, reported as damaged so far. The national rice inventory was the total volume 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 critical indicator for assessing food security and planning rice-related agricultural and trade policies. If DA’s forecast for year-end domestic rice stocks comes true, domestic stocks at the end of 2024 would be the highest in at least 15 years, exceeding 2010’s 3.42 million tonnes.

PCA celebrates its 51st year

Meanwhile, the PCA celebrated its 51st anniversary from June 2 to 27, and also held a 3-day mini trade show dubbed “NIYOGosyo sa Kadiwa” that started at the DA-PCA Covered Court in Diliman, Quezon City. In her message, Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero, DA Undersecretary for High-Value Crops, highlighted the new level of strengthening of the coconut industry through rural development, adding the importance of technological support from 15 agencies working on the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Program. “Under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, we at the DA extend our warmest greetings to our farmers, the PCA and the coconut industry. We all show the importance and contribution of the coconut industry to the overall economy through agricultural activities and exports,” she said. Natividad-Caballero emphasized that the coconut industry contributed 3.2 billion pesos to the national economy in the form of exports. For his part, PCA Administrator Dexter Respicio Buted assured that the agency’s Massive Coconut Planting and Replanting project is being implemented nationwide in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s commitment to plant 100 million coconut trees by 2028. “We already planted about 2 million (coconut seedlings) (last year). This year, we plan to plant 8.4 million,” he said, adding that most will be planted in Visayas and Mindanao because of the suitable soil and climate. He also added that the PCA is seeking an increase in the budget for the PCA’s fertilization program to boost coconut production, or a budget of 2.4 billion pesos that could boost the nut’s productivity by 15 percent. “In the first year, we will see a 15 percent increase in yield. And the next year, a 20 percent increase in yield and a 25 percent increase in yield,” Buted said. He said mass planting and replanting, along with increased productivity, would help the Philippines regain its position as a major coconut exporter in the next five to 10 years. “If we think like that, we will really regain that the Philippines will be the number one coconut producer,” Buted said. Until now, the Philippines was the world’s second-largest coconut exporter, after Indonesia and ahead of India. Marcos wanted the Philippines to become the world’s largest coconut exporter, seeing it as a great opportunity to contribute to the country’s overall economic growth.