The Shrinking Coconut Farm

The Philippines is one of the world's largest producers of coconuts, and millions of Filipinos depend on the crop for their livelihood. Yet many coconut farmers remain among the poorest workers in the country. Several factors explain this paradox. Most coconut trees are old and less productive, having been planted decades ago. Replanting is costly, and new trees take years to bear fruit, so many farmers cannot afford to wait. Farmers also sell mostly copra, or dried coconut meat, whose price swings with the world market, leaving their incomes unstable. Meanwhile, much of the added value from processing coconuts into oil, coconut water and other products goes to processors and traders rather than farmers. Experts suggest that intercropping, or planting other crops between coconut trees, could provide additional income. They also recommend helping farmers form cooperatives so they can process products themselves and capture a larger share of the profits.