PCA PRESS RELEASE TCoconut farmer groups from different parts of the country expressed their opposition against allowing the export of matured coconuts as it would result to the depletion of raw materials, processed and value-added coco products, loss of jobs, and closing of small to medium businesses.

(Philippine Coconut Authority photo)

Due to low copra prices, there was a call by some local officials for the lifting of ban on the export of matured coconuts. These groups claim that such move would increase the income of our small coconut farmers and that there already is a ready market for our matured coconuts such as China and Malaysia. However, coconut farmer groups, as well as industry processors, expressed their concern over such claim as the exportation will greatly affect the industry and that it does not guarantee that coconut farmers would directly benefit from this proposal.

To date, PCA has received letters, resolutions, and manifesto from a total of 94 Small Coconut Farmers Organizations (SCFOs) from various regions, expressing their opposition against the export of matured coconuts.

“We, the Federated Small Coconut Farmers of Zamboanga del Sur, strongly disagree and oppose the said proposal to lift the ban. It is true that coconut farmers suffer from the low copra price, but we think that the exportation of matured nuts is not the answer,” said Joel Naciongayo, the Provincial SCFO Chairman of the province of Zamboanga del Sur which is composed of 19 municipal SCFOs.

“What the coconut farmers need is a long-term remedy that will not harm the future of the coconut industry, especially in the province of Zamboanga del Sur. The exportation of matured nuts will also cause the depletion of raw materials especially for the banner products of the province which are coco coir, coco sugar and virgin coconut oil (VCO),” Naciongayo added.

Aurora Federated SCFO Federated Chairman Epifanio Doño also supports the non-lifting of ban and said, “While it is a fact that we need immediate solutions, exporting is not the right answer especially as it is not farmer-oriented and not downright beneficial to us farmers since it is the consolidators, middlemen, and rich institutions who will greatly benefit on the market system approach, hence it is not pro-farmer. Moreover, given the pandemic crisis, with limited activity and transportation, it is not practical and applicable to our coconut farmer organizations. This is because farmers cannot guarantee a fair share from the exporting scheme since the international market does not promise a stable pricing for the years to come unless they come up with a fixed pricing contract of raw coconut purchase.”

“If we proceed with the exportation of our raw materials, the price will be under the control of the world market and there is no assurance of a high price always and only the middlemen and businessmen can benefit from it,” Vicenzo Sagun SCFO Federated Chairman Jenelyn Seronio said.

PCA has been firm on its stand to maintain the ban and prohibit the export of matured coconuts as this prohibition is in line with the preservation of our genetic resources, as matured nuts are planting materials.

Dumalinao Small Coconut Farmers Organization President Joel Naciongayo said, “Coconut whole nuts can be planted and propagated by other countries who depend from our matured nuts, and eventually, they would not buy from us anymore because then they would have already established their own source.”

Bayugan City Coconut Farmers Association (BCCFA) Chairman Leberato Mabalot which have 38 active barangay coconut farmers organization also has voiced their opposition against allowing the export of matured coconuts. BCCFA has been the recipient of a coir processing plant by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund in June 2019, and to date is continuously operating with an average annual production of 13,500 kilograms of coco fiber.

Mabalot said, “With pressing national issue of allowing or not allowing the exportation of matured whole coconut with husks, the strong voice of the members of the unified SCFOs of the City of Bayugan, we firmly oppose the exportation of whole matured coconuts. This is because the processing of coco husks in this JAIF livelihood-focus project will be greatly affected.”

“It is possible that there will be a shortage of coco husks because there will be no more husks left behind in the coco farms because the buying price may be so enticing that coco farmers may prefer to sell their matured nuts instead,” Mabalot added.

Balunu Carrion Farmers Association from Zamboanga City also issued Board Resolution No. 003, s. 2020, entitled, “A Resolution to Strongly Oppose to Open Export Market for Mature Coconuts” on September 8, supporting the non-lifting of ban.

Other coco farmer groups such as Dapitan City Federation of SCFOs, which is composed of 30 barangay SCFOs, buyer and trader groups, cooperatives, processors, and integrated coconut processing plants also expressed their opposition against the proposal to allow the export of matured nuts
### (PCA StratComm)