Agusan del Norte’s coconut farmers sought assistance from the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) for the development of geonet production and marketing that would provide additional supply of geonets in the region.
The Libas Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Jabonga recently presented its P10 Million business proposal on Geonet Production and Marketing during the 2-day PRDP Investments for Rural Enterprises and Agricultural and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) Business Plan and Technical Review.
“The successful geonet production of the neighboring provinces has inspired us to duplicate its business for the purpose of creating additional source of income among the farmers in the locality,” said Tomas Tener, Provincial I-PLAN Component Head.
The proposed project would provide the cooperative with hauling and delivery truck, cooperative’s office, warehouse, weighing scales, decorticating, twinning and weaving machines. “These machines would efficiently translate to 4,000 coconet rolls per year,” Tener said.
Based on the Vulnerability and Suitability Assessment (VSA) result, the Municipality of Jabonga ranked second in its assessment for most number of coconut trees planted, hence the availability of dehusked nut is plenty which the farmers thought of utilizing.
“It all started when few households begantwinning with the coconut husk they gathered, until the neighbors also started the same activity and realized its potential as a lucrative source of income,” said Elson Morada, Cooperative’s Chairperson.
As per financial economic analysis, an individual can earn an average of P250 per day for a 5 sqm. of geonet. If the cooperative’s proposal will be granted under PRDP’s enterprise development component, a farmer can have an annual income of up to P47,000 or 167% increase compared to its current earnings..
The Provincial Agriculture Office has seen the enthusiasm and cooperation of the coconut farmers in the municipality which encouraged them to assist the farmers in forming a cooperative with coconet production as its main line of business.
Geonet, also known as coconet has been in demand for the mining companies operating in the many areas of Caraga. Its main use is to prevent soil erosion where government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Deparnment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) require its constructors and mining operators to use as preventive and rehabilitation measures.
Morada said that the interest to increase production sprouted when other coconet producers would source out to the cooperative for additional supply of geonet since some mining companies would buy on bulk orders.
“This type of business has been profitable and supports not just the workers of the cooperative, but also other farmers through selling their coconut husk to the producer cooperative; such proposal should be supported,” said I-REAP Component Head Lynn Pareñas. (Fretcher Magatao/DA-RCPCO13)
