MANILA: The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is seeking additional funding to plant 100 million coconut trees by 2028 to revive the country’s coconut industry.
For 2026, the PCA targets planting 25.4 million seedlings nationwide, but current funds cover only 16.85 million. It needs an additional P1.26 billion to bridge the shortfall of more than 8.5 million seedlings.
Despite funding constraints, the PCA planted 8.6 million seedlings in 2024 and has since expanded planting through its coconut hybridisation programme, local government partnerships, and community-led initiatives.
The agency is also raising seedlings in nurseries nationwide for the next planting cycle.
“This is more than a massive planting campaign. It is an investment in the future of our coconut farmers and the entire industry,” PCA Administrator Dexter Buted said in a statement on Friday.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said reviving the industry requires long-term investments to support farmers and boost economic growth.
“This is about giving coconut farmers a better future. Higher productivity means higher incomes, while a stronger coconut industry supports jobs, exports and food security,” Tiu Laurel said.
The replanting agenda anchors the revised five-year Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) to rebuild the sector through rehabilitation, financing, research, processing, and market development.
The PCA said the plan “combines farm rehabilitation, fertilisation, intercropping, financing, research, processing and market development to create a more productive and profitable coconut industry.”
The agency is also fertilising existing coconut palms. As of March, more than 9.17 million palms had received fertiliser, helping over 78,000 farmers improve yields while newly planted trees mature. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
