As Phl Exports double in 2016: Government wants small farmers to profit from coco water

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is exploring ways on how small farmers may benefit from the growing demand for healthful coconut water, exports of which have risen to $81.1 million.

Unfortunately, profits from coconut water are largely enjoyed by big beverage companies.

Five village-level coconut water manufacturing facilities are being put up by PCA to pilot-study a processing technology for coconut water  that may benefit small coconut farmers.

The P38.5 million pilot project will rise in Bicol, Caraga and Davao.

“Before we didn’t have a technology to extend the shelf life of coconut water from mature nuts because we were used to drinking only the coconut water from green nuts.  But we now have a village-level machine for this,” PCA operations manager Dennis Andres said in an interview.

Coconut water has fast gained an export market due to its health benefits compared to carbonated beverages.

From only $1.2 million for 19,139 metric tons (MT) in 2011, coconut water exports rose to $10.161 million in 2013, $41.03 million in 2015, and $81.1 million last year for 63,789 MT. 

Exporters are mainly big companies including Pepsi and Coca Cola.  

Destinations are the US (58.6 percent), Australia (4.08 percent), Brazil (0.89 percent), Canada (2.78 percent), Taiwan (0.83 percent) and Southeast Asian countries (Japan and Korea) which accounted for 32.8 percent.    

Coconut water from mature nuts are more nutritious compared to water from green nuts since it is not high in sugar compared to the sweet “buko juice.”

Surprisingly, the Philippines has a huge untapped resource for coconut water from mature nuts since only 1.84 percent of available supply is processed into export product. 

“We throw away more than 98 percent of our supply of coconut water,” said PCA trade information chief Luz Brenda  Balibrea.

This wastage consists of the water from coconut used as copra (processed into coconut oil and other processed goods as cocodiesel) or the coconut water thrown away as households use only the coconut cream (gata) for cooking.

One technology relevant to small farmers involves a machine developed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (Philmech). It prevents immediate fermentation, and spoilage of coconut water, according to Andres. 

Water from mature coconuts can spoil fast within six hours when left unprocessed.

Balibrea said ultra high treatment or UHT (heating the water to 130 degrees to 150 degrees centigrade for two to four seconds) is also used to obtain a shelf life of one to two years at ambient temperatures.

A study on nutritional value was earlier made by a tetra pak company in Singapore which showed coconut water from mature nuts are more nutritious than those from green nuts primarily due to low sugar content.

Generally, coconut water is rich in natural vitamins: thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, amino acids and proteins.

Under the village level coconut water processing project, farmers will be trained on Good Manufacturing Practice, food safety standard HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point), and Health and Occupational Safety.

Marketing assistance will also be extended to small farmers, Balibrea said.

Among the firms that are exporting coconut water in the country are Coco Davao, Gel Tropical Processing Plant Corp., Fruits of Life, Superstar Coconut Products Co., Primex Coco Products, and Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc.