Agricultural Training Institute – Region 12
For the first time in the history of the Philippine Coconut Industry, farmers are now enjoying very high farm gate prices with Copra selling at over P70 per kilo.
“The average mill-gate price, which refers to the price paid by a mill or processor for a commodity, more than doubled to P77.02 a kilo from P33.75 per kg.,” according to news reports.
Instead of rejoicing because of the great economic benefits gained by Coconut farmers who had suffered for ages and considered one of the poorest sectors of Philippine Agriculture, government has expressed alarm over the high farm gate prices.
In a press statement released yesterday, “the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has expressed concern over rising copra and coconut prices, saying this would impact retail prices and may cause inflation to heat up.“
“The Philippine coconut industry is at a critical juncture. If not addressed urgently, the rising costs of copra and coconut oil could strain the operations of processors and ripple into widespread food inflation affecting every Filipino household,” the press statement added.
Nakakagulat ito because instead of expressing optimism for the future of the Coconut Industry, the very agency whose mandate is to promote the Coconut Industry, the PCA is more worried about “inflation.”
I am now suspecting that some “brilliant” business-minded individuals in government or those influential in the economic policy making in government are already looking at “importation” to address the perceived problem.
This was the same scenario painted when the massive importation rice, pork and chicken was justified, even going to the extent of lowering tariffs purportedly to bring down prices.
As proven by available data and market prices, the massive importation and reduction of tariffs did not bring down prices of the commodities in the market.
Ang nakinabang lang ay mga importers.
Instead of sounding the alarm over the high prices of copra and coconut products, the PCA should instead come up with an in depth study of the long-term market demand for Coconut oil and other products.
Ang trabaho ng PCA ay tulongan ang mga magsasaka ng niyog at hindi ang pag-iimbento ng kwento about inflation to justify the importation of other products like Palm Oil.
