Commodities

Coconut

Coconut(Cocos nucifera Linn) is a perennial tropical palm which is widely adapted in various environment and climatic conditions occupying over 20% of available arable land (Magat, 1996), In the Philippines, it occupies 3.1 M hectares comprising 18.80% of the total agricultural area of the country with annual production value of 35,437.83 M in 2002 (United Coconut Association of the Phil. Inc. as cited by Legaspi, 2006).

Coconut as a “Tree of Life provides man with food, drinks, fuel, materials for housing, industrial uses and with the discovery of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), much more shown it’s medicinal and nutriceutical properties. Given new impetus now, is the utilization of today which can be processed into products with high economic and nutritional values like tuba (coconut wine). Lambanog, coconut vinegar, coconut syrup, and coconut sugar (jaggery). These today-based products, are rich in total solid, sugar (sucrose), protein, carbohydrates, phosphorus and amino acids, and can give higher net income to farmers (Php 9,100-14800/month) and higher return on investment of 380%-465% compared to nut production alone (Secretaria, et al., 2002). Production of tuba and nuts is more profitable than producing nuts alone (corobado, 1972; Tagarino, 1993; as cited by Legaspi, 2006.