PCA seeks P1.75-B budget for 2013

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is seeking a higher budget for 2013 to enable coconut farms to increase exports of non-traditional coconut products like coconut water and virgin coconut oil (VCO). 

The PCA is proposing a budget of P1.75 billion for 2013, 47 percent higher than this year’s budget of P1.2 billion.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said President Aquino has instructed the department to provide more assistance to coconut farmers now that there is a big market for non-traditional coconut products like coconut water and virgin coconut oil.

“We will devise and implement strategies to take advantage of the growing export demand on coco water, VCO and coco sap sugar,” he said.

The Department of Agriculture is encouraging the development of high value coconut products to add value to coconut exports.

The value of coconut water exports in the first six months of the year rose 100.5 percent to $11.2 from $5.6 million in the same period last year, according to data from the PCA.

Volume of export likewise rose 81 percent to 10.2 million liters in the first semester from 5.7 million liters in the same period last year.

The United States remains as the top export market with shipment valued at $8.7 million in the first semester, up 127 percent from $3.8 million in the same period last year. Volume of shipment rose 71.5 percent to eight million liters from 4.6 million liters.