SAN JOSE, Antique – Coconut farmers from this province are optimistic that their lives will improve with the enactment of Republic Act Number 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.
“Our federation is planning to put up a coconut farmers’ hub in the central part of Antique where the farmers would be able to consolidate their products and avail of training,” said Antique Federation of the Coconut Farmers, Incorporated president Trinidad Eiman on Wednesday.
According to Eiman, they plan to make Antique the coconut industry center in the Philippines by establishing seedling farms to encourage more farmers to plant coconuts.
Plans have long been there, however, they were not able to implement without funding, she said.
“The Republic Act Number 11524 signed by President (Rodrigo) Duterte is like a dream come true for us coconut farmers,” she added.
With this, coconut farmers are encouraged to enroll with the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS) to avail themselves of the benefits.
Flora Egonio, also an officer of the federation, has planted 30 coconut trees in her half-a-hectare land.
In February, she earned P3,000 from the copra taken from the coconut trees.
“If there will be a training for us, we could still make other by-products that could boost our income,” she said.
The Philippine Coconut Authority has already registered 25,000 coconut farmers in this province as of June 30 since the law was signed in February 2021.(PNA)
