Scaling up coconut production is among the priorities of the Department of Agriculture-Northern Mindanao (DA-10).

According to the agency, a private coconut processing plant is being established in Misamis Oriental, which can process more than 50,000 tons of coconut daily. It will be operational by August 2024.

With this facility, farmers can sell their produce at P16 each compared to the P4 selling price at present.

“Kung P4 ang presyo sa lubi kada mag-uuma, ang sumada ang usa ka punuan P200 lang iyang ma-income, apan kanang P16, moabot na P1000 to P1200 per tree per year making coconut as the local economic drivers,” newly appointed DA-10 Director, Jose Apollo Pacamalan, said.

Data from the DA-10 showed that the region has at least 100 million coconut trees.

DA-10 is also set to launch an agricultural information system that will keep agricultural data and monitor the plight of farmers in the region.

Pacamalan has ordered the creation of the agriculture information system and portable weather monitoring system in strategic locations in the region that produce high-value crops.

Pacamalan added that consolidating the data pertaining to the damage to agriculture caused by El Nino is a challenge for the agency as it only relies on reports submitted by the local government units.

“Gamit ang AI technology arun kung mag ulan kung asa dapit sa Northmin morehistro diri kanato ug ato dayon mapreposition daan asa ang mag binhi ug kinsa mag-uuma nga una makatanom,” Pacamalan said.