The
Mindanao Development Authority reiterated that coconut is still a top priority
for the government despite the growing popularity of palm oil.
“The
production of palm oil is only being encouraged and promoted in idle lands and
in no way should palm compete with the existing coconut plantations,” Mindanao
Development Authority’s Romeo Montenegro said at a press conference held at the
Marco Polo Hotel.
He
said coconut copra and palm kernel remains the top dollar earner of Mindanao
with a 21.26 percent share in the total exports of Mindanao as of 2012.
However, he said that coconut exports decreased by 19.48 percent, from $1.1055
billion in 2011 to $.89 billion in 2012.
The
MINDA report shows that coconut or copra got the largest share of Mindanao’s
exports to the United States amounting to $359 million or 43.2 percent of the
total exports to the US. Coconut copra was also Mindanao largest export to the
Netherlands amounting to $303.68 or a share of 61 percent of the total exports
to the said country.
“Despite
the challenges faced by the coconut industry demand continues to increase but
there seems to be a reduction of supply,” he said. Montenegro said this is why
the government is encouraging the planting and production of more coconut and
its byproducts.
