Coconut farmers in Antique are encouraged to add value to their products to boost their income.

Farmers produce mostly copra and vinegar, but they need to be more creative in producing other coconut-based by-products to add to their income, according to Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Antique and Aklan office head Gregory Teñoso III during the opening of the 39th National Coconut Week here on Wednesday.

“In Antique, there are around 51,137 coco farmers with 1.9 million bearing plants,” he said.

Each kilo of copra currently sells for PHP80 but other parts from roots to crown can be processed into coco coir, ladle and bread ingredient, among others.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique Director Mary Jade Gonzales said they are collaborating with the PCA to help coconut farmers in promoting and marketing their products, and in capacity-building and research through the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).

Antique contributes about 24 percent or nearly 139,000 metric tons of the coconut produced last year.

Antique provincial board member Fernando Corvera Jr. encouraged farmer cooperatives and associations to seek accreditation with the Provincial Development Council for funding assistance for their project proposals.

Antique Coconut Council president Dr. Clarissa Esmenos narrated in a separate interview that she started with four coconut plants in their backyard. After 12 years, she has developed a coconut farm where she sources raw materials for her virgin coconut oil products.

“One will never go wrong in planting and investing in coconut,” she said. (PNA)