Credit to the unbankable and underserved (Part 3)

by Emil Q. Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/credit-to-the-unbankable-and-underserved-part-3/
January 31, 2015

Most Filipino farmers and fisherfolk are poor because of the low productivity of the livelihoods they engage in. However, the technologies and practices to enhance productivity and reduce risks are available. Their immediate need is for operating capital with which to acquire improved seeds/breeding stock, fertilizers, feeds and crop protection and animal health drugs.

However, of the estimated six million farmers and fisherfolk households, only 28 percent have access to credit. Hence, the need for proactive and innovative government programs to encourage the lending institutions to expand coverage in the countryside.

We can, and do coerce the banks, to lend at least 25 percent of their loan portfolios to the AF sector under the Agri-Agra Law (P.D. 717) as amended by RA 10000. But the more reasonable and lasting way is a combination of: 1) measures to raise productivity and minimize risks to farmers, and 2) schemes to minimize the risks and costs to lending such as credit guarantee, insurance, credit information and quedans.

Credit guarantee and agricultural insurance are globally accepted practices to expand rural credit. We have these two schemes in place — the Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool (AGFP) under the administration of the Land Bank, and crop, livestock and fishery insurance under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). The problem is their current coverage is only in the order of 135,000 to 220,000 farmers out of six million. These are not large enough numbers to make an impact. Their clientele should include at least one million small farmer and fisherfolk borrowers.

Credit to the unbankable and underserved (Part 2)

by Emil Q. Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/credit-to-the-unbankable-and-underserved-part-2/
January 24, 2015

Sad to say the Philippine legislature and executive departments are great in enacting laws and articulating national development plans but notoriously wanting in implementation and follow through. We have committed so many errors in the past and we should be much wiser now. We do have a strategic plan for agricultural credit developed by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) and what we need to do now is to scale up, fine-tune, and execute.

REDUCING RISKS AND COSTS TO LENDING

Private formal lending institutions i.e. commercial banks, thrift banks, cooperative banks, rural banks, farmer cooperatives, microfinance institutions and some NGOs actually provide the bulk of the credit that flow to the agriculture and fisheries (AF) sector (90 percent in 2013). This is the way it should be and most of government efforts ought to be directed to providing incentives for them to lend more.

Credit to the unbankable and underserved (Part 1)

by Emil Q. Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/credit-to-the-unbankable-and-underserved-part-1/
January 17, 2015

“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” –Robert Kennedy

If our agriculture were to hold its own in the coming liberalized market in ASEAN, there are a number of conditions which we need to markedly improve upon. We have to continue investing for the intermediate and long term in key public investments like irrigation; farm-to-market roads; modern grain centers, slaughterhouses and fish ports, and in research, development and extension. Much more immediate in impact is farmers’ access to credit. Technology is available but most small farmers and fishermen are unable to source necessary inputs like improved seeds/stocks, fertilizers, feeds, pesticides and fishing gear and farm equipment with which to attain higher productivity.

In 2013, the agriculture and fisheries sector (AF) contributed 12 percent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). During the same period, bank loans to agriculture and fisheries amounted to P729 billion which was only 1.93 percent of total bank loans. And of the loans for AF sector, only 0.63 percent were for actual agricultural production. This gross lack of congruence between contribution to the economy and credit demonstrates dramatically what’s wrong with agriculture.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 recognizing the role of credit stipulated that the amount of P2 billion be appropriated for the first year of implementation and P1.5 billion every year for the next six years.

Rehabilitation of abandoned mined-out sites (Part 2)

by Emil Q. Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/rehabilitation-of-abandoned-mined-out-sites-part-2/
January 10, 2015

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not? –Robert Kennedy

The 37 abandoned mined-out sites that scar the countryside will continue to poison the atmosphere for a rational debate on how best to mobilize our vast mineral resources to advance our national purposes for now, and for generations to come. Not only are they ugly but they pose continuing threats to the health (heavy metals) and physical safety (floods, landslides) of the surrounding communities.

It is ironic that we sit upon one of the world’s largest mineral reserves which could very well be responsibly and intelligently exploited for the country’s industrialization and further development. Of the nine million hectares with mineral potential, only 135,000 hectares (1.5 percent) are covered by mining permits. What’s holding us back are the sensitive issues of equitable sharing of returns between the mining investors and the national and local governments as well as the benefits that should accrue to the local communities many of whom are indigenous peoples.

Equally contentious are the adverse consequences of mining on the environment and people’s health. Mining as an extractive industry has inevitable impacts to the environment. But these adverse consequences can be largely avoided and mitigated by proper technology, deliberate planning and commitment by the mining industry and close supervision by the regulatory agencies.

Protecting coral reefs for inclusive growth

by Emil Q. Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/protecting-coral-reefs-for-inclusive-growth/
December 27, 2014

‘There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?’ – Robert Kennedy

The poorest Filipinos among the poor are the 1.6 million small fisherfolk and coastal dwellers who rely on fishing for a significant part of their food needs and income. They derive their livelihood from our shallow coastal waters particularly the 27,000 square kilometers of coral reefs. It is estimated that coral reefs (with depths of up to 18–36 meters) contribute 20 percent of total capture fisheries, which in 2012 was valued at P145 billion.

In addition to fish production, coral reefs figure prominently in our global status as one of the major mega-biodiversity countries. Philippine coral reefs are home to 533 species of corals, about 2,500 marine fish species, more than 600 species of macro algae and thousands of other marine life. In comparison, the world famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia has only 350 coral species and 1,500 fish species.

Unfortunately, less than 10 percent of our coral reefs are considered in relatively good health thereby, severely diminishing their fishery production potential. Due to wanton physical destruction of coral reefs as well as overfishing, fish abundance has been estimated to have declined to 5–20 tons fish per square kilometer compared with 100 tons per square kilometer for pristine coral reefs.

Watching the parade pass us by

by Dr. Emil Q. Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/watching-the-parade-pass-us-by/
December 20, 2014

‘There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?’ –Robert Kennedy

During the celebration of agricultural biotechnology week last November, a reader inquired why the science community seem to be so perturbed over the imposition of the writ of kalikasan by the courts on the further development of insect-resistant GMO Bt eggplant.

Indeed the Biotech Coalition of the Philippines (BCP), chaired no less than by the Dean of the UP Manila College of Public Health, Dr. Nina Gloriani, had on many occasions bewailed the mis-informed application of the writ against modern biotechnology research when precisely the protection of public health and the environment the rationale for the writ of kalikasan are the objectives of the research.

The answer is straightforward: As concerned Filipino scientists we are keenly aware of the rapid progress being made all over the world in the development of new products and processes using genetic engineering. Many of these innovations can have profound impacts on farm productivity, farmers’ incomes, health and nutrition, integrity of the environment and economic competitiveness.

Clustering Farms and Linking with the Markets (Part 2)

by Dr. Emil Q. Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/clustering-farms-and-linking-with-the-markets-part-2/
December 6, 2014

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?

– Robert Kennedy

If we were to modernize our agriculture, to make it globally competitive, generate more livelihoods, and make farming more profitable to farmers, we have to link the primary producers to the market. We have to shorten and make more systematic the value chain from the farms to the consumers.

The current material supply chain for agricultural produce is fragmented, chaotic and wasteful. The products pass through the hands of 2–4 middlemen before they reach the consumer or processor. The cost of assembly, transport, wastage and margins of the middlemen all conspire to bring down the farm gate price, to the detriment of the small farmers.

This piece was inspired by the recent press releases of SHEMBERG, the pioneer Cebu-based seaweed processor/export company organized by the late Benson Dakay, and by UNILEVER, the global corporate giant in food, personal care and home care products. Shemberg is organizing coastal dwellers in Bohol to produce dried seaweeds for their operations. Unilever Philippines on the other, is investing $120 million to expand their domestic operations. Its expansion plan includes among other things intensifying sourcing of locally grown tamarind (sampaloc) for its very popular Knorr Sinigang cube mix and ube flour for their Selecta ube-flavored ice cream.

Ugly Fruits and Vegetables

by Dr. Emil Q. Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/ugly-fruits-and-vegetables/
November 29, 2014

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?’

– Robert Kennedy

The French grocery chain Intermarche has started a movement of sorts in Europe selling what are described as “ugly” fruits and vegetables in order to reduce wastage, and hence make food less expensive and affordable. The other French chains, Auchan and Monoprix, have followed suit and have begun selling as well fresh produce which are misshapen, off color, off size but otherwise tasty and fit to eat. Some UK supermarkets have also taken to this latest French fashion.

The standards of modern trade have gone so ridiculously high that only picture-perfect, blemish-free fruits and vegetables are accepted. The rest are rejected, thrown away and/or sold at huge discounts. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), worldwide 40 percent of fruits and vegetables are going to waste for cosmetic reasons. In the US, the NGO Natural Resources Defense Council estimate that a whopping 52 percent of fruits and vegetables are mindlessly tossed away.

SLIGHTLY BLEMISHED BY INSECTS AND DISEASES

Also “ugly” but otherwise tasty, as nutritious and safe to eat are fruits and vegetables slightly blemished by insects and diseases. Our warm, humid climate provides a hospitable environment for plant pests and diseases. This is aggravated during the rainy months when vegetables are in short supply and most expensive.

Modernization of the Corn Sector

by Dr. Emil Q. Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/modernization-of-the-corn-sector/
November 22, 2014

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?

– Robert Kennedy

The liberalization of trade among the ASEAN countries by 2015 is raising a lot of concern on how ready we are to meet the competition given that we have many products in common. Most immediately threatened are the rice and sugar industries by low-cost competition from Vietnam and Thailand.

One bright picture in the horizon is the new-found vigor and competitiveness of the yellow corn feed sector. We are now close to self-sufficiency in corn for animal feed thanks to large-scale adoption by our corn farmers of high yielding genetically modified (GMO) corn hybrids. In 2013, our corn farmers planted 800,000 hectares of GMO corn hybrids which is 57% of the total corn area.

Using traditional varieties and farm practices, our historical national average corn yield is 1.5 tons per hectare. Farmers using improved open-pollinated (OP) corn varieties obtain twice as much (3.0 tons per hectare). By switching to conventional hybrids, the yields increase to 4.4–4.9 tons per hectare. Further improvement was obtained from genetically modified hybrid corn (5.4–5.8 tons per hectare). Good farmers in Isabela and Bukidnon routinely get 7–8 tons per hectare. These data were derived from actual farm surveys in the eight major corn producing provinces over eight seasons (2008–2012) by an independent research team led by Dr. Leonardo Gonzales (STRIVE/SIKAP Foundation).

Islands of Modern Agriculture

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/islands-of-modern-agriculture/
November 15, 2014

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that
never were, and ask why not?
– Robert Kennedy

Over the weekend I had the good fortune of being introduced by Erlene Manohar (PCA regional
manager) to two agribusiness entrepreneurs in Alaminos, Laguna who are producing corn silage
for export to Korea as well as for several dairy farms in Batangas and Laguna. They also mill
corn for animal feed production. The two entrepreneurs are Virgilio Monzones and Arcadio
Gapangada Jr., who are Chairman of the Board and CEO, respectively of BENACORN
Corporation.

Gapangada used to be a board member of Laguna but apparently has heeded the admonition of
Irish satirist Jonathan Swift. He has quit politics and had become a useful member of society by
becoming a full-time farmer.

They have no corn farms of their own but outsource corn from small growers in Laguna,
Batangas, and Quezon, almost all of whom are at the same time coconut farmers. In order to
assure themselves of a steady supply of raw materials, the corporation encourages the 1,500
small farmers who grow corn for them to mechanize, use hybrid corn seeds, and apply chemical
and organic fertilizers generously.

Gearing Agriculture for ASEAN in 2015

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/gearing-agriculture-for-asean-in-2015/
November 8, 2014

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream
of things that never were, and ask why not?
– Robert Kennedy

The liberalization of trade among the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) by 2015 is raising a lot of concern on how ready we are to meet the
competition given that we have many products in common.

In agriculture, our world-class banana and pineapple industries are very well placed and should
be able to hold their own. Their immediate challenges have to do with land consolidation and
physical security in the fertile hinterlands of Mindanao. Banana is threatened by diseases and
pineapple by insect pests. These are pre-competitive industry-wide concerns and ought to be
addressed by private sector industry associations. The state universities (UP Los Baños,
University of Southern Mindanao and Central Mindanao University) can be mobilized to help in
basic research.

Our mango industry with its superior Carabao mango variety which is low in fiber and has no
turpentine taste has its own niche market. Unlike most export varieties which are seasonal, we
are able to produce Carabao mango year-round thanks to the flowering technology developed by
National Scientist Ramon Barba at the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) in UP Los Baños. There
is significant room for expansion as fresh fruit as well as dried and processed into slices, purees,
juices, smoothies in cans, plastic cups in the export market. The Department of Agriculture (DA)
should work closely with local government units, the private sector processors and exporters on
a focused integrated national mango program organized around small mango growers. In the
medium term, we should breed an improved Carabao variety with longer shelf life (thicker skin)
and with a little red skin blush to make it more visually attractive.

Coconut Levy Funds (Part 2) Last Two Minutes

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/coconut-levy-funds-part-2/
November 1, 2014

If the Administration is looking for legacies to remember the Benigno Aquino presidency by, the liberation of the Coconut Levy Funds (CLF) during its “last two minutes” could be one. Our coconut farmers have waited long enough for the use of the CLF now in the custody of the National Government. However, since 22 percent of the P70 billion fund is contested by UCPB and COCOLIFE as belonging to them, the 30-year litigation over the ownership of CLF is still pending in the Supreme Court. Passing new legislation to resolve the remaining issues will be arduous and problematic. Thus, the most expeditious route is by Executive Order to apply on the 78 percent uncontested share of the Fund.Under existing laws (Presidential Decree 232, 961 and 1468) the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has the sole authority to administer and disburse the coconut levy funds.

In order to preserve the CLF for posterity and to assure the coconut farmers that the money will be well-spent and for their exclusive benefit, we propose that the following be stipulated in the proposed Executive Order, namely: 1) that only the interest thereof shall be spent i.e. absolutely no accelerated spending in the guise of having dramatic impact on the lives of coconut farmers between now and 2016, 2) CLF should not be treated as substitute for regular operations/programs of PCA, 3) only such expenditures which are uniquely associated with the coconut sector should be eligible for support from CLF, and 4) that the Government Commission for GOCCs’ GCG strengthen its oversight by prescribing an external program and budget review of PCA.

Coconut Levy Funds (Part 1)

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/coconut-levy-funds-part-1/
October 25, 2014

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?
– Robert Kennedy

We join the clamor of coconut farmers for the unfreezing of the estimated P70-billion coconut levy funds (CLF) now in the custody of the National Government. After a long litigation lasting for three decades over the true ownership of the CLF, the Supreme Court ruled in January, 2012 that the CLF are public funds held in trust by the National Government for and on behalf of the millions of coconut farmers and the coconut industry, at large. However, before the Supreme Court can issue an entry of judgment, the decision was contested by the Philippine Coconut Producers Federation (COCOFED) which had been denied. Subsequently, United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) and United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corporation (COCOLIFE) claimed that each of them is entitled to 11 percent of the CLF, for a total of 22 percent. These two claims have yet to be resolved.

Coconut farmers, who are among the poorest of the poor, have waited long enough and it’s about time these funds which belong to them are utilized for their benefit. Hopefully, the Supreme Court would soon dismiss/deny any further private claims on CLF and ordain the implementation of their decision of January, 2012.

Be that as it may since the claims of UCPB and COCOLIFE comprise only 22 percent of the CLF, the National Government can proceed to implement the Supreme Court decision with the uncontested 78 percent of the CLF. Under existing laws, (Presidential Decree 232, 961 and 1468) the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has the sole authority to administer and disburse the coconut levy funds. What remains to be done, therefore, is for the President by issuing an Executive Order to stipulate, if he so wishes, on how, how much and for what specific purposes the CLF should be spent.

Golden Rice (Part 2)

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/golden-rice-part-2/ 10/
October 18, 2014

The risks that can come from genetically modified crops (GMOs), such as Golden Rice, are of three kinds, namely: 1) risks of the technology to human and animal health, e.g. presence of allergens and poisons, 2) risks to the environment e.g. creation of super weeds which can overwhelm natural vegetation, and 3) risks incidental to the technology, such as potential domination of world agriculture by the multinationals who have proprietary rights over the technology.

There are two key genes involved in the genetic engineering of Golden Rice, namely: 1) phytoene synthase (designated Psy) and 2) phytoene desaturase (designated Crt1). Psy was isolated from corn while Crt1 from a common soil bacterium Erwinia uredovora. Both Psy and Crt1 are found in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway common to all green plants. The bacterium gene Crt1 was used because it was found to be more efficient than its counterpart genes with the same function found in higher plants. In other words, these two novel genes introduced into the rice plant to allow beta carotene accumulation in the rice grain are also commonly found in green plants (e.g.,vegetables, fruits and legumes) that we consume every day. Humans have been safely consuming these nutritious plants without any known bad effects. The beta carotene produced is converted as needed by the body into vitamin A, which is essential for human nutrition.

Golden Rice (Part 1)

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/golden-rice-part-1/
October 11, 2014

There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never
were, and ask why not? – Robert Kennedy

The new science of genetic engineering has made it possible to precisely transfer genetic
materials (genes) from one species of organism to another. Genes, as we now know, are actually
made up of chemical molecules called deoxyribose nucleic acids, or DNA for short. They are
found in the nuclei of cells which make up the tissues of all living things.

Inheritance of traits from one generation to the next is determined by a genetic code which is
shared or common to all living organisms. Simply put, the DNA responsible for the synthesis of
an amino acid like glycine, which is a common component molecule of proteins, is identical for
all plants, animals and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi). The universality of the genetic
code common to all living things is consistent with the theory of evolution that all living things
descended from single-celled organisms. Thus all living things share a common genetic heritage
from very distant ancestors.

From the original single-celled organisms, living things evolved over billions of years into the
millions of species of plants, animals and microbes which populate our planet Earth. In order to
make sense of this multitude of living things, the great Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus
invented a system of taxonomy which classified them into species, genera, families, orders,
classes, phyla, and finally, kingdoms. This hierarchy of kinds of living things is based on how
close they are genetically and how readily they are able to exchange genes.

Rice Trade Liberalization (Part 2)

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/rice-trade-liberalization-part-2/
October 4, 2014

More liberal trading among nations across all products and services will bring more economic
benefits in the aggregate. But as always more benefits will accrue to some; others will get less
and may even be worse off. Thus, the need for safety nets for those who are left out. And time for
adjustment for those who are not ready.

But can the Filipino rice farmers survive in a liberalized rice market?
Yes… Why not! Our corn farmers have learned to survive and compete with little government
support. They have found new strength with GMO corn hybrids, plus most importantly,
aggressive private sector support from seed companies, input suppliers and mechanization
custom service providers. With more large grain centers and better shipping and transport
logistics, our yellow corn animal feed sector should be even more competitive.

Our coconut farmers have survived, too, but barely. Worse we impoverished them with four
coconut levies in succession in the 1970s and 1980s. The coconut levies which by now must be
worth at least P70 billion are frozen in the national treasury and with the United Coconut
Planters Bank (UCPB).

RICE HYBRIDS AND MECHANIZATION

Rice Trade Liberalization (Part 1)

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/rice-trade-liberalization-part-1/
September 27, 2014

‘There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why . . . I dream of things that
never were, and ask why not?’ . . . Robert Kennedy

(A reader, Ms. Lilybeth Eleccion called attention to the attribution of the “Why Not!” quote to
Robert Kennedy. The original quote was really made by the Irish playwright, essayist and 1925
Nobel Prize winner for literature, George Bernard Shaw. Kennedy’s adaptation however reads a
little better.)

At the core of the rice policy debate are the interconnected issues of rice self-sufficiency, rice
trade liberalization and what to do with the National Food Authority.

Rice self-sufficiency is emotionally and politically charged because rice is our major staple and
is very much part of our Asian culture. Thus, all presidential administrations and congresses
since independence have adopted the mantra of rice self-sufficiency with little debate.
We are not alone in our zealous protection of our rice supply. Japan, South Korea, China, and
India are as protective, if not more. And these four economic giants cannot be moved, WTO
rules notwithstanding.

However, the painful reality is that except for a very brief period in the early 1970s during the
term of President Marcos, we always had been short. We are short, not because our rice farmers
are inept because our rice yields per hectare are respectable even with all the typhoons that visit
us every year, but for the simple reason that we have much more mouths to feed with our limited
rice land. Our rice yields are higher than those of Thailand but Thailand has three times as much
rice lands as we do and only two-thirds of our population.

Organic Agriculture — Pros and Cons

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/organic-agriculture-pros-and-cons/
September 20, 2014

Organic farming, an alternative model of agriculture, is fast gaining acceptance by more affluent
and health-conscious consumers in developed countries and in urban centers in less developed
nations. Organically produced grains, vegetables and fruits, as well as poultry and pork, are
deemed safer and healthier for humans and environment. In part, the growing acceptance of
organic farming is a reaction to the excesses of modern chemical intensive conventional
agriculture. Organic farming prohibits the application of chemical fertilizers, the use of chemical
pesticides and planting of genetically modified seeds (GMOs).

Organic farming is growing although its total value is still a small fraction of the world’s food
supply. The Philippine Congress recognizing the potential and opportunities of organic farming
enacted Republic Act 10068, in July 2009, promoting and regulating organic food production
and commerce.

However, there are downsides to organic farming. Organic farming most often results to lower
yields and higher cost of production. Stringent labeling and certification to protect legitimate
organic farmers from unfair competition add to the costs.

Long-term field experiments in the United Kingdom comparing organic versus conventional
wheat plots in the same farms show a yield penalty of 20-30% against organic wheat. These
same magnitudes of yield variances have been obtained in rice by the Philippine Rice Research
Institute in Nueva Ecija.

Building better: Modernizing agriculture after Yolanda (Part 6) Modernization of the coconut industry

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/building-better-modernizing-agriculture-after-yolanda-part-6/
September 13, 2014

The value of coconut to the Philippine economy is captured by the following statistics: Coconut
contributed P77.4 billion to the national economy in 2013, ranked fourth among crops after rice,
banana and corn. It is planted on 3.56 million hectares, about one-fourth of the total land area
devoted to agriculture. An estimated 3 million farmers are primarily engaged in coconut
cultivation. We are the world’s largest coconut producer and coconut oil exporter.

After the widespread devastation of agriculture, including coconuts, by Yolanda, a suggestion
was made that instead of replanting with coconut, we switch to oil palm and rubber, which tree
crops provide more incomes per hectare per year.

Indeed oil palm and rubber give higher yields but unfortunately they are very susceptible to
strong winds. Oil palm has shallow roots and is top heavy and is easily toppled over. Rubber, on
the other hand, has weak trunk and branches which easily break.
Coconut on the other hand, is typhoon-resilient and easily weathers the many typhoons which
make landfall, except the very severe ones like Yolanda. Coconut loses many fruits and flowers
but recovers within 2–3 years.

Besides coconut is adapted to saline soils in coastal areas which lands we have plenty of because
of our archipelagic geography.

Moreover there are four other advantages of coconut over other tree crops:

Building better: Modernizing agriculture after Yolanda (Part 5) Irrigation Management and Custom Service Providers

by Dr. Emil Javier
Published in: http://www.mb.com.ph/building-better-modernizing-agriculture-after-yolanda-part-5/
September 6, 2014

The very high correlation between agricultural productivity and availability of irrigation, farmto-
market roads and rural electrification had been established by rigorous economic studies all
over the developing world, including the Philippines.

The government as it does now should continue investing in rural infrastructures to build more
irrigation and drainage systems, both small scale and large; build more all-weather farm-tomarket
roads, and proceed with further rural electrification, to support village-level processing
and auxiliary economic enterprises.

The more immediate challenge as far as irrigation is concerned, is the poor utilization of existing
irrigation systems. The efficiency of the large irrigation systems under National Irrigation
Administration (NIA) is only 1.57, short of the full two crops/year design. This observation
applies as well on communal irrigation systems supervised by LGUs and small water projects
under the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM).

Therefore more rigorous attention should be devoted by the NIA, BSWM, Department of
Agriculture (DA) and the LGUs on the effective utilization and maintenance of these public
investments.