In what could its most ambitious program or project in many years, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is targeting to plant 16 million coconut trees this year.

The planting of 16 million coconut trees was among the targets disclosed by PCA Administrator Oscar Garin during the first-ever National Convention of Coconut Development Officers held at Iloilo from February 3 to 5.

Under the Participatory Coconut Planting Project, the PCA will assist and give incentives to farmers to plant 16 million coconut trees this year, which will complement the Plowable Intercropping Project, and the Salt Fertilization Project. The three projects are part of the National Coconut Productivity Program, a priority program of the government.

At present, the country has 324 million coconut trees planted to 3.1 million hectares of land.

Garin expressed confidence the program will enable the country´s vigorously to the increase in the local and global demand for coconut products.

Under the planting project, farmers will be paid a minimum of P30 per seedling planted. One hectare of land can be planted with 1,000 coconut trees at the maximum. Thus, if a farmer has five hectares, he could potentially earn P15,000.

The paying of incentives will be in checks, which will guarantee transparency. The planting project eliminates the tedious process of nursery operation, and the transport of seedlings to the planting site, among others, thereby reducing costs.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap already approved in principle P100 million for the project that would be sourced from the Coconut Industry Investment Fund.

Under the intercropping project, farmers are encouraged to plant vegetables or other crops between coconut trees as additional source of income. For salt fertilization the use of salt as fertilizer for coconut trees will be propagated.

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