Agriculture and Aquaculture Industry

[Monchhichi]

DA eyes seaweed farming as anti-poverty industry in Bicol'€™s coastal areas
LEGAZPI CITY – Most of Bicol’s coastal waters are potential seaweed farming sites and the Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking to maximize seaweed production in these areas to create jobs and ease poverty among the region’s coastal communities.

The intention is to harness the already existing Philippine asset as a producer of United States-Food and Drug Administration-approved Philippine Natural Grade (PNG) carrageenan, a product made from seaweed.

Carrageenan is a “hydrocolloid” or gel in contact with water extracted from red seaweeds which employs a nature-friendly low-energy mild alkali process.

In a statement here Friday, Nicomedes Eleazar, director of DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), said his agency is looking into supporting more projects in seaweeds since it is a product that is unique to us and where we can have the competitive edge globally.

The use of carrageenan over other substitutes is even more becoming a global trend considering its environment-friendly manufacturing.

“If possible, we want to plant seaweeds in all suitable areas of the country so that we can contribute to elimination of pollutants. Seaweeds utilize excess organic matter in the environment and functions to filter natural waste,” according to Eleazar.

Seaweed’s potential as a dollar earner, he said is equivalent to around $200 million, including $87 million for semi-refined carrageenan, $41 million for refined carrageenan and $15 million for raw dried seaweed.

Given government support, dollar revenue generation from the sector may reach $500 million to $1 billion yearly.

Apart from dollar earnings, the industry job creation role is also important given that over a million marginal fishermen are engaged in seaweed farming with an average annual income of P120,000, Eleazar said.

The Philippines over the last two decades has been dominating the seaweed supply globally, accounting for 70 to 75 percent attributable to the unique blending of the country's coral reef structure, temperature and currents of its waters, and the accessibility of easily-trained workers.

At present, seaweed farmers in Bicol and other parts of the country need extensive financing for seedlings, farm devices and for daily sustenance. The needed skills in growing are already well-provided.

The Philippines, according to Eleazar, obtained in 1994 an approval for its PNG carrageenan from the Coded Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants in Rome which conducted toxicological assessment of the food additive.

A Codex Alimentarius food safety certification has also been assigned to the Philippine product.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/4...-coastal-areas

[hakz2007]

Philippines loses exclusive access to Pacific Ocean tuna fishing grounds

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines - The Philippines will soon face competition in the pockets of high seas previously reserved for Filipino fishermen, after the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) failed to reach a consensus on closing huge areas that serve as the migratory path of tuna and tuna-like species.

But the 9th regular session of the WCPFC held at the Philippine International Convention Center agreed to a 4-month closure of four pockets of high seas to purse seine operations and FAD fishing, which refers to the use of fish aggregating devices.

Read more

[hakz2007]

Entry of Thai firm will kill local hog, poultry industry

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers on Thursday warned that the entry into the country of a foreign company engaged in the livestock business will kill the hog and poultry industries in the Philippines.

Reps. Isidro Lico (ATING-KOOP Party-list), author of House Resolution 2920, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investment (BOI) have granted the Charoen Pokphand, a Thai livestock company, with seven-year tax holiday, incentives for importation and other perks.

“The entry of this foreign company will definitely kill the local hog and poultry industries and will affect the employment of thousands of people,” Lico said.

Read more

[Monchhichi]

Domestic Rice Production Rising 6%

January 19, 2013, 7:20pm
Rice production in the Philippines, the world’s fourth-biggest importer, may rise 6 percent year-on-year due to increased planting, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.

Aggregate rice production, including the main season and ongoing secondary season, may total 18 million metric tons, up from 16.998 million tons a year earlier, the Rome-based FAO wrote today in a country report on its website. That’s equivalent to 11.8 million tons of milled rice. The main-crop harvest, which finished in mid-December, rose 11 percent from a year earlier to a record 10.1 million tons, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics’ estimate cited in the report.

“The increase mainly reflects an expansion in the planted area and higher yields following favorable weather as a result of the La Niña phenomenon during the main season,” the FAO said, referring to the weather pattern caused by cooling equatorial waters in the Pacific Ocean.

Corn production may total 7.42 million tons, up from 6.97 million tons a year earlier, the FAO said.

Typhoon Bopha (Pablo), which brought heavy rain and wind to parts of the country in early December, likely will have only a minimal impact on national grain production, the FAO said. The storm may have damaged about 28,000 hectares of rice and 35,000 hectares of corn, mostly in the Northern Mindanao and Davao regions.

Philippine grain import requirements in the 2012-13 marketing year that began June 1 may total 4.2 million tons, 21 percent less than a year earlier, as domestic production expands, the FAO said. The country is expected to import 3.2 million tons of wheat.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/390321...6#.UPuAMh3vH-Y

[hakz2007]

Philippines sees 2013 farm output up 4.3-5.3 pct

Jan 21 (Reuters) - The Philippines expects its agriculture output to grow between 4.3 to 5.3 percent this year, supported by higher rice production, the farm minister said on Monday.

Manila expects its unmilled rice output this year to hit 20 million tonnes against an actual 18.03 million tonnes in 2012, Proceso Alcala told reporters.

Read more

[nayki]

Farm output grows 2.9 pct in 2012

MANILA - Farm output in 2012 grew by 2.92 percent year-on-year on the strength of the crops, poultry and livestock subsectors, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday.

The growth however was below the full-year target range of 3-5 percent.

In a press briefing, Secretary Proceso Alcala said the agriculture sector produced P1.4 trillion worth of products last year, as the three subsectors, which accounted for a combined 82 percent of total farm output, grew an average of 3.6 percent.

The crop subsector turned in growth, led by rice production, which grew 8.1 percent year-on-year to 18.03 million metric tons on the back of a 3.4 percent increase in harvested area.

“The 8.1 percent increase in palay output is the highest growth rate achieved since 2000,” Alcala said.

Also contributing to the record palay harvest was the government's early cropping scheme, which enabled farmers to replant after the summer harvest for a quick turn-around (QTA).

“Our efforts are paying off, and we would like to implement similar early planting and QTA schemes and cover more areas this year, and attain our sufficiency target of 20 million MT by end of 2013,” Alcala said.

The average harvest per hectare increased by 4.3 percent to 3.84 MT from 3.68 MT in 2011.

Corn production also turned in a record harvest of 7.41 million MT, or 6.25 percent more than the 6.97 million in 2011.

The DA attributed this to higher yield per hectare at 2.86 MT last year from 2.74 MT in 2011.

Other crops that performed well last year included tobacco (up by 7 percent), pineapple (6.7 percent), coconut (3.8 percent), and rubber (4 percent).

The poultry subsector, which accounted for 14.3 percent of total farm output, grew by 4.5 percent to P167.1 billion, while livestock inched up 1.1 percent year-on-year to P214.3 billion.

http://www.interaksyon.com/business/...-9-pct-in-2012

[Nabartek]

Originally Posted by hakz2007

Entry of Thai firm will kill local hog, poultry industry
Read more

I have nothing against foreign companies venturing but if they are getting tax holidays while local hog raisers are not, there is something wrong there. I think it is not the coming of this Thai poultry that will kill local hog but rather their "quirks" given by the government will do.

Competition is good, as long as it is fair competition.

[Manila-X]

PH misses ’12 farm output growth target
Contraction in fisheries sector dragged performance
By Niña P. Calleja
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11:39 pm | Monday, January 21st, 2013

The country’s farm output grew by 2.92 percent in 2012, falling short of the government’s growth target of between 3 percent and 5 percent.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said this year’s agriculture production was pulled down by the 0.04 percent contraction in the fisheries sector, which was brought about by
the 3.9-percent decline in the municipal fish catch.

“It’s still in the negative but we are projecting the fisheries sector to post growth by the second semester (this year),” Alcala said.

Alcala said the Philippines was recently granted special access to a portion of the high seas in the Pacific Ocean until February 2014, giving commercial vessels more time to fish for tuna.

In contrast, three agriculture subsectors—crops, poultry and livestock—which accounted for about 82 percent of the total farm output, posted a combined growth of 3.6 percent in 2012.

Alcala noted the record-high performance of the rice and corn subsectors in 2012 despite the adverse effects of the typhoons that hit the country last year.

Harvests of palay (unmilled rice) and corn in 2012 reached 18.03 million metric tons and 7.41 million MT, respectively.

The palay harvest, which was 8.1 percent higher than the 2011 output of 16.68 million MT, was the highest since 2000, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Alcala attributed the palay production growth to the 3.4-percent increase in the area harvested to 4.69 million hectares from 4.54 million ha in 2011.

“The target to produce 20 million MT by 2013 to achieve self-sufficiency is no longer impossible,” Alcala said in a briefing on Monday.

Programs of the DA such as the early cropping and third cropping systems encouraged farmers to plant and increase production.

“Our efforts are paying off, and we would like to implement similar early planting and QTA (Quick-turn-around) schemes and cover more areas this year, and attain our sufficiency target of 20 million MT by end of 2013,” Alcala said.

The average harvest of palay per hectare also increased by 4.3 percent to 3.84 MT from 3.68 MT in 2011.

The DA said this was due to innovative schemes to make high-quality seeds accessible to farmers.

[Monchhichi]

PH agri leaders unite vs smuggling

ROSALES, Pangasinan – For the first time in more than 20 years, major stakeholders in the country’s agriculture sector formed a united front denouncing rampant smuggling and what they called as “unlawful entry” of a Thai food company that had been granted tax exemptions and other perks.
Rosendo So, director of the Swine Development Council, said 25 national agricultural leaders, farmers and representatives of allied industries signed a resolution that warned about the death of Philippine agriculture because of government policies that would hurt local food producers.
“The move of the industry leaders is unprecedented in the past two decades. This is the first time that such a big group came together to denounce the unabated smuggling of meat and other agricultural products, as well as the tax perks extended to Thai conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods),” said So, also chair of the party-list group Abono.
He said industry leaders welcomed the support of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and several lawmakers for their campaign to protect local farmers and hog and poultry raisers.
The resolution was adopted during the 6th Multisectoral Agriculture Summit held in Metro Manila early this month. The summit discussed the impact of CP Foods on food production and retail.
The Board of Investments (BOI) granted the Thai firm a pioneering investment status, which would allow the foreign company to enjoy a six-year tax holiday along with import incentives for corn and other raw feed materials.
“The BOI move favoring CP Foods undermines our sovereignty and food security. It will also result in the loss of employment for millions of Filipinos as the agricultural sector employs 33 percent of the entire Philippine labor force,” the resolution read.
“The BOI’s grant of preferential treatment to [CP Foods] reveals the national government’s incoherent policy direction on agriculture,” it said.
The resolution was submitted to Malacañang on January 18.
“We are hopeful that the President would take action,” said So.
Aside from So, among those who signed the resolution were Agap Representative Nicanor M. Briones, Durian Tan and Alfredo Dy of Swine Development Council; Daniel Javellana Jr., chair of National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc.; Edwin Chen, head of Pork Producers Federations of the Phils. Inc.; former Pangasinan Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco, Agham Rep. Angelo B. Palmones, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño, Eduardo So, head of Mindanao Alliance of Pork.
Jesus Aranza, head of Federation of Philippines Industries Inc.; Javier P. Mateo, head of Philippine Veterinary Drug Association Inc.; lawyer Jose Elias Inciong, head of United Broiler Raisers Association; Gregorio San Diego Jr., head of Philippine Egg Board; Jayson H. Cainglet, head of Agri-Business Action Initiatives.
Norman C. Ramos, head of Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc.; Wilfredo Resoso, head of Philippine College of Swine Practitioners; Arturo Alejar Jr., head of Crop Protection Association of the Philippines; Napoleon Co, head of Association of Aqua Feed Millers Inc.; Joji Co, head of Philippine Confederation of Grains Association.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/345293/...e-vs-smuggling

[saintelm]

PHL mulls creation of coco industry hub for Asia
January 29, 2013 5:13pm

To encourage investments and establish the Philippines as the center of coconut oil trade in Asia, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) are mulling over the creation of a 150-hectare industrial estate.

The would contain “... all the support needed by the coconut industry, PCA administrator Euclides Forbes told reporters in a press conference Tuesday, saying this was part of his conversations with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

...read more

[jpdm]

Major local players finally are doing the right thing!

Originally Posted by Monchhichi

PH agri leaders unite vs smuggling

ROSALES, Pangasinan – For the first time in more than 20 years, major stakeholders in the country’s agriculture sector formed a united front denouncing rampant smuggling and what they called as “unlawful entry” of a Thai food company that had been granted tax exemptions and other perks.

Rosendo So, director of the Swine Development Council, said 25 national agricultural leaders, farmers and representatives of allied industries signed a resolution that warned about the death of Philippine agriculture because of government policies that would hurt local food producers.

“The move of the industry leaders is unprecedented in the past two decades. This is the first time that such a big group came together to denounce the unabated smuggling of meat and other agricultural products, as well as the tax perks extended to Thai conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods),” said So, also chair of the party-list group Abono.

He said industry leaders welcomed the support of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and several lawmakers for their campaign to protect local farmers and hog and poultry raisers.

Aside from So, among those who signed the resolution were Agap Representative Nicanor M. Briones, Durian Tan and Alfredo Dy of Swine Development Council; Daniel Javellana Jr., chair of National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc.; Edwin Chen, head of Pork Producers Federations of the Phils. Inc.; former Pangasinan Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco, Agham Rep. Angelo B. Palmones, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño, Eduardo So, head of Mindanao Alliance of Pork.

Jesus Aranza, head of Federation of Philippines Industries Inc.; Javier P. Mateo, head of Philippine Veterinary Drug Association Inc.; lawyer Jose Elias Inciong, head of United Broiler Raisers Association; Gregorio San Diego Jr., head of Philippine Egg Board; Jayson H. Cainglet, head of Agri-Business Action Initiatives.

Norman C. Ramos, head of Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc.; Wilfredo Resoso, head of Philippine College of Swine Practitioners; Arturo Alejar Jr., head of Crop Protection Association of the Philippines; Napoleon Co, head of Association of Aqua Feed Millers Inc.; Joji Co, head of Philippine Confederation of Grains Association.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/345293/...e-vs-smuggling

[Parchie]

Originally Posted by saintelm

PHL mulls creation of coco industry hub for Asia
January 29, 2013 5:13pm

To encourage investments and establish the Philippines as the center of coconut oil trade in Asia, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) are mulling over the creation of a 150-hectare industrial estate.

The would contain “... all the support needed by the coconut industry, PCA administrator Euclides Forbes told reporters in a press conference Tuesday, saying this was part of his conversations with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

...read more

They're talking about the market-end. They ought to be concerned with the facilities that will systematically replace our old and less productive varieties in the countryside (fam-side). Please remember that it will take seven to eight years before coconuts bear fruit. Or ten years before each tree becomes fully productive!

[jpdm]

For an agricultural country, this is bad news.

Anyway, with DA Secretary Alcala in the Pnoy govt, this bad situation will be resolve..


Agri trade deficit widens



By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 1, 2013 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s agricultural trade deficit widened by 34.13 percent to $2.41 billion in the first nine months of 2012 from $1.79 billion a year ago, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) reported yesterday.

Export earnings from agricultural products were placed at $3.6 billion during the nine-month period, down 9.8 percent from export earnings in the same period in 2011. Farm exports for the period accounted for 9.14 percent of the country’s total export earnings for the period.

Payments for agricultural imports from January to September 2012, on the other hand, stood at $6 billion, up by 3.55 percent from the same period in 2011.

Trade with Japan and the European Union registered surpluses of $434.67 million and $229.32 million, respectively.

Deficits were recorded in trade with ASEAN countries at $1.1 billion, with Australia at $519.01 million and with United States at $386.25 million.

Dollar earnings generated by the country’s top 10 agricultural exports fell 15.27 percent to $2.5 billion last year from $3 billion in 2011.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1


Commodities that registered decreases in export earnings were: coconut oil, down 33.56 percent; dessicated coconut, 27.40 percent; tobacco manufactured, 22.13 percent; seaweed and carrageenan, 14.32 percent; centrifugal sugar, 45.91 percent; milk and cream products, 38.27 percent; and fertilizer manufactured, 42.47 percent.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has instructed agricultural attaches to find new ways to increase the exports of Philippines farm commodities and address the usual deficit in agricultural trade.

During his recent meeting with the Department of Agriculture’s foreign agriculture service corps (FASC), Alcala told agriculture attaches to review trade relations and explore ways to export non-traditional agriculture products along with traditional ones.

http://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rc...6N8DIrGzKZN1bg

[hakz2007]

PHL to start exporting rice this year – Alcala

The Philippines will start exporting special varieties of rice this first quarter and stop importation by 2014 after domestic rice production exceeded the target by at least two million metric tons during the 2011-2012 cropping season, a government press release said.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the government would start the exportation of fancy rice varieties as early as this first quarter after the country's rice production reached about 18.3 million MT in 2012, which surpassed its target of 18-million MT for the same year.

Read more

[Monchhichi]

Palace says land distribution on track, rejects bishops’ call for DAR revamp

Even as it maintained the government's land distribution efforts remain on track, Malacañang on Sunday rejected Catholic bishops’ call to revamp the leadership of the Department of Agrarian Reform due to the supposed under-performance of the government’s land reform program.

“Secretary [Virgilio] delos Reyes enjoys the full trust and confidence of the president,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on government-run dzRB radio, even as she admitted there are “more challenges” in the process of acquiring land to distribute to farmers.

On the other hand, a Presidential Communications Operations Office statement quoted Valte as saying the government has so far distributed 300,000 hectares of agricultural land to 169,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

“Admittedly, there are more challenges in the process of acquiring and distributing private lands (because before this), what government was distributing were government-owned land. Now, we are in the process of acquiring and distributing privately owned lands,” she said.

Catholic bishops had voiced dismay over Aquino’s commitment towards genuine land reform, noting the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with extension and reforms (CARPER) ends July 2014.

In a letter to Aquino dated Jan. 24, about 84 prelates, including Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, reminded him of his promise for speedy implementation of the law.

They called on the President to “revamp” the leadership of the DAR, which they said had been under-performing particularly in land acquisition and distribution.

“We are greatly alarmed, however, that barely one a half years from the expiration of CARPER, the accomplishments of DAR have been dismal, to say the least, and many promises made to the farmers in June dialogue are not fulfilled,” the bishops added.

“We, therefore, make common cause with the farmers and many agrarian reform advocates in the call for speedy implementation of this law that touches deeply a grave social justice issue in the country affecting so many poor farmers,” they added. — LBG,
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story...for-dar-revamp

[Monchhichi]

30,000 ARMM farmers to get help from Italy
DAVAO CITY—Ten towns in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will benefit from some P2.5-billion assistance, mainly from the Italian government, to uplift the conditions of over 30,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries in the area.
ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the Italian aid will go a long way in improving the lives of people in 35 agrarian reform communities through the building of rural infrastructure and providing start-up financing for livelihood projects and microenterprises in the area, not only for agrarian reform beneficiaries but also for indigenous peoples, fisherfolk and upland farmers in these communities.
The project, funded mainly by a soft load of 26,190 euro (P1.57 billion), a grant of 1.35 million euro (P81 million) from the Italian government and some P866-million Philippine government counterpart, will benefit 53,000 households and will be carried out in the next six years, said Hataman during the signing of the memorandum of agreement with the Department of Agrarian Reform for the implementation of the program.
“This means a lot to us, especially in the context of the signing of the framework agreement,” Hataman said, referring to the document signed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in October last year that is expected to pave the way for the end of the four-decade old Moro conflict in Mindanao.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes said the project would be poured into the Maguindanao towns of Datu Montawal, Datu Piang, North Upi, SK Pendatun and Sultan Mastura; and the Lanao del Sur towns of Wao, Bubong, Kapatagan, Balindong and Malabang, among others.
The project seeks to increase agricultural productivity of agrarian reform communities, develop viable markets for traditional crops and cash crops and fishery products, strengthen the organizations of agrarian reform beneficiaries and improve their access to quality economic and basic support services.
Hataman said the six-year development project seeks to address rural poverty and promote sustainable development in rural Mindanao.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/352569/...elp-from-italy

[chanlatorre]

Philippine farmers hope for coconut-craze windfall
By Cecil Morella | AFP News – 3 hours ago


This photo taken on August 30, 2012 shows a vendor displaying coconut-water products in Manila. After centuries of replenishing Filipinos, the mineral-rich liquid has become a must-have health drink thanks to aggressive marketing by a beverage industry looking to offset soda sales that have lost their fizz

Philippine farmer Liezl Balmaceda has never heard of Madonna, but the US pop star's endorsement of coconut water may help change her impoverished life for the better. After centuries of replenishing Filipinos, the mineral-rich liquid has become a must-have health drink thanks to aggressive marketing by a beverage industry looking to offset soda sales that have lost their fizz.

Balmaceda, 33, and her husband process truckloads of coconuts at their backyard each week to get the meat that is turned into vegetable oil. The arduous labour earns the family of five about $9 a day, barely enough get by. "We just throw the water away when we extract the copra (coconut meat). But if you tell me people actually pay money to drink it, we could use the extra cash," she told AFP in rural Mulanay town, four hours' drive south of Manila.

In his most recent state of the nation address, President Benigno Aquino hailed coconut water as one of the country's most promising new export opportunities. He cited industry figures showing exports jumping more than nine-fold to 16.76 million litres (4.4 million gallons) in 2011.
Manila-based Fruits of Life is one local business to have started profiting from the growing appreciation in the West for coconut water as an alternative to sugar-laden carbonated drinks. "People have become more health-conscious in general," said Phoebe de la Cruz, sales manager for Fruits of Life. "Athletic types have taken to coco water for its natural electrolytes."

Fruits of Life, which began exporting its own branded product in 2006, now exports about 240 tonnes in cans and tetra packs a year directly to supermarket chains in the United States and Canada.

The biggest players in the global beverage industry, including Coca-Cola and Pepsi, have also jumped into the coconut water health drink craze in recent years.

ZICO, a US coco water brand majority owned by Coca-Cola, has supermodel Gisele Bundchen and basketball star Kevin Garnett as its endorsers.
Meanwhile, pop stars such as Madonna and Rihanna, as well as baseball player Alex Rodriguez, are among celebrity shareholders in Vita Coco, one of the other major brands. Its 0.33-litre (11-ounce), $3 drink is touted as a healthier alternative to energy drinks for athletes and the company boasts an office in New York's Flatiron District.

The Philippines is already the world's biggest exporter of coconut products. Big Philippine mills have for years processed desiccated coconut meat and turned it into powder for baking biscuits, snack bars, cakes and pastries. Coconut flesh is also turned into vegetable oil used for cooking and in a range of common household products, including bath soap.

Supply is not a problem in the Philippines with 350 million coconut trees growing from the beaches up to its hills and yielding 15 billion fruits a year, according to industry regulator the Philippine Coconut Authority. In the Philippines, coconut water remains a popular, cheap drink, with stalls selling it straight from the fruit -- a common site throughout the big cities as well as the countryside.

However, because of a lack of demand as well as the costs required to process and preserve it, the water had never been profitable enough to sell overseas, Philippine Coconut Authority chief Euclides Forbes told AFP. "From mere waste it's being turned into gold," Forbes said.
Nevertheless, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that while coconut water holds the potential of improving the lot of impoverished Filipino coconut farmers, logistical issues held the industry back.

"The demand is huge. The only problem is how to bring the liquid to the processing centres before it spoils, since most coconut farms are in hilly areas without good roads," Alcala said.

Meanwhile, some farmers remain sceptical that they will cash in on the Western craze, citing the fact they have remained poor for decades while big business has profited from other coconut exports. Among them is Rodolfo Aquino, 68, who is paid by traders to haul coconuts by ox-drawn cart about two hours' drive from Manila. "Whether they want the meat and water or just the meat, we get paid the same," Aquino told AFP.

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippine-...--finance.html

[spearhead]

Mag slow down daw muna sa oil palm plantations kasi mahina daw humigop ng tubig ang mga coconut trees kumpara sa mga regular trees, kaya nagdudulot daw ng mga baha:

[spearhead]

Shiit inaatake na tayo ng mga intsik by deploying soft-shelled turtles, eating our plantations daw at mga tilapia, ano ba yan...!?

[Parchie]

Originally Posted by spearhead

Mag slow down daw muna sa oil palm plantations kasi mahina daw humigop ng tubig ang mga coconut trees kumpara sa mga regular trees, kaya nagdudulot daw ng mga baha:

Pwedeng isa sa mga dahilan pero hindi kapanipaniwala! Meron kasing binaha, ni walang isang punong niyog dun!