April 27, 2015

“Isa ito sa mga babantayan kong proyekto dahil may potential ito na mabigyan ng karagdagang hanap-buhay ang mga coco farmers.” This was stated by Carlito P. Aquino, a farmer scientist from Brgy. Cagmanaba in Ocampo, Camarines Sur, after the Orientation Seminar on the Operation of Village Level Coconut Water Processing Center conducted by the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) at the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility in San Agustin Pili, Camarines Sur on April 17, 2015.

Aquino, 55, who is into farming for about seven years, said that with the village level coconut water processing facility, coconut farmers will get 150% return on investment (ROI). He added, “Operational and manageable kahit sa ordinaryong farmer. Sa isang nut, one part pa lang ang coconut water pero bawi na ang kapital plus ‘yung value-addition.” He was also impressed with the health value of the coconut water which makes the product marketable.

The activity was initiated to orient the coconut farmers and representatives of cooperatives in Camarines Sur about the technology developed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Mechanization and Development (PhilMech) Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija which is being pilot tested at the facility lodged at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Compound, the first of its kind nationwide. According to PRDP Project Support Office South Luzon Director Shandy M. Hubilla, the project aims to perfect the use of the technology to facilitate its operation and management in the village level thereby increasing the farmers’ income.

PhilMech Chief Science Research Specialist and Division Chief Dr. Ofero A. Capariño explained that using the traditional process, coconut farmers earn P5,000 for every 1,000 nuts sold as copra at P25 per kilo. On the other hand, by producing 1,000 bottles of coconut water out of 1,000 nuts, coconut farmers will double their income.

He also mentioned that coconut water is now a growing industry in the U.S. and Europe as substitute for energy drinks and soft drinks. In 2005, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognized coconut water’s potential in the sports drink market due to its desirable taste and aroma as well as nutritional value and functional compositions that are also found in sports drinks.

Capariño cited that 2.4 billion liters per year of coconut water from matured coconuts are being wasted during copra processing thus, the village level coconut water processing center was conceptualized to add value to it by producing natural, nutritious, and safe coconut water. He also toured the participants to demonstrate the operation of the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility from cleaning to filling and packaging. They were also given free coco water samples produced at the facility during the test run on April 16, 2015.

Convinced that the project will benefit more farmers in his municipality, Aquino plans to invite farmer organizations in Ocampo, Camarines Sur to visit the facility and to encourage them to engage in the project. “Pag-aaralan ko rin kung paano maka-access nitong program,” he added.
Meanwhile, PhilMech Executive Director Engr. Rex L. Bingabing underscored the critical role of the farmers for the continuous operation of the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility. He also guaranteed that farmers will benefit from delivery to marketing through a patronage refund scheme once production is already stabilized.

For farmer leader Luis Bagaporo of Baao, Camarines Sur, enthusiasm, openness to new ideas, and business-mindedness must be developed among farmers to appreciate what PRDP offers through the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Project. “Another source of income ito para sa mga coconut farmers para ma-break ang monopoly ng copra. Napakalaki ng potential nito kapag mapunta sa lugar namin ang equipment kasi directly magbe-benefit ang mga farmers,” he said.

Moreover, Hubilla said that PRDP will run the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Project in collaboration with PhilMech, DA-Regional Field Office V, Camarines Sur Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU), and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) for six months from April to October 2015. Based from the results of the feasibility study, PRDP will proceed to business planning and proponent group selection as part of its transition to Investments in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) 3.1 or Agro-industrial Enterprise Development.

On May 4-6, 2015, Swedish nationals who are conducting a research on value chain analysis in the country will also visit the facility. Furthermore, the finalization of the proposal to expand the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility into a Coco Hub is underway. (Annielyn L. Baleza, I-SUPPORT InfoACE Unit, DA-RAFIS 5)

PSO South Luzon Director Shandy M. Hubilla orients the coconut farmers and representatives of cooperatives in Camarines Sur about the benefits of the Village Level Coconut Water Processing Center’s operation being pilot tested at the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Facility in the Department of Agriculture Compound in San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur.

PSO South Luzon Director Shandy M. Hubilla dialogue with coconut farmers and cooperative representatives about the technical aspect of the Coco Water Processing Technology Pilot Testing and Business Incubation Project.