PCA to plant ‘new seeds of hope’

"New seeds of hope, a better future for coconut farmers and their families." This was how Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Evangeline S. Valbuena envisioned the agency’s intervention in typhoon ravaged coconut areas in Aurora, Quezon and Camarines Norte provinces.

Valbuena said some 11,000 seed nuts are due to arrive at Real, Quezon to serve as replacements to typhoon-ravaged coconut trees. The seednuts are sourced from the PCA’s research center cum seed farm in Zamboanga City.

The administrator said coconut trees felled or permanently rendered unproductive by the typhoons will be processed into lumber to be used in the construction of shelter for the victims. Assistance will also be afforded in rehabilitating coconut farms, particularly by distributing seeds of short gestation intercrops through the High Value Cache Crops Office.

"Our approach is not just to rise up from the ruins of the calamity, but we will take the same as an opportunity to upgrade coconut sector development in the area," Valbuena said.

She said rehabilitation and upgrading will be done through the cooperation of private sectors, the local governments, National Disaster Coordinating Council, Department of Agriculture bureaus and attached agencies like SEEDCOR, LIVECOR, BPI, BFAR, HVCC and others. — Coconut Media Service