The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 (Davao Region) has partnered with PUM Netherlands, a volunteer business advisory group, to develop high-value products from coconut husks under the Coconut Farmers Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).
DTI-11 Director Romeo Castañaga said that the collaboration aims to support capacity-building and product development for 25 CFIDP-assisted coconut-based enterprises and farmers in the region.
Despite the abundance of coconuts in the region, the industry faces challenges, such as low farmer income, poor tree yield, outdated technologies, limited market use of coconut products, and a lack of innovation in items like coconut milk, cream, and water, Castañaga said.
He thanked PUM Netherlands for assisting regional farmers and enterprises in developing coconut husk-based products, such as substrates and growing media, which are in high demand in Europe.
“We have noted several challenges when venturing into producing and promoting coconut products for horticulture purposes. These range from market access and expansion to technology, innovation, and laboratory facilities,” Castañaga said.
Recently, PUM expert Cees de Kreij, a Netherlands-based consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the coconut sector, conducted one-on-one sessions with coconut farmers and cooperatives involved in husk processing.
De Kreij shared technical expertise on processing coconut husks into substrates and growing media for fruits, vegetables, and plants through technology transfer interventions for coconut stakeholders.
Soilless agriculture is widely practiced in the Netherlands and the European Union, where fruits, vegetables, and flowers are grown without soil.
DTI-11 plans to conduct coconut husk mapping in 2025 to assess the region’s capacity for large-scale husk supply and prepare a study on its market potential.
Davao Region ranks fourth nationwide in land area planted with coconuts and production volume but contributes 13 percent to the country’s total coconut output, making it the top producer.
By December 2024, DTI-11 had assisted about 800 coconut farmers under CFIDP, focusing on research, marketing, and market promotion to support the sector’s growth.
PNA PHOTO
