𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐏𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 4-𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐲𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬

𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐏𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 4-𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐲𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 Zamboanga City, Philippines – Over 40 coconut farmers from Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte participated in a four-day training program aimed at expanding their skills and knowledge on coconut byproduct production. The training was organized by the Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc. (ZABIDA) in collaboration with the Philippine Coconut Authority Zamboanga Research Center and supported by German Development Cooperation under the project 𝑴𝒐𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑻𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝑷𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝑬𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚. The participants were divided into two groups based on their respective provinces. The Zamboanga del Sur group primarily focused on biodiesel production, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), and soap making, while the Zamboanga del Norte group concentrated on coconut twinning and white copra production. The goal of the training was to equip the farmers with additional skills that would allow them to diversify their income streams by producing various coconut byproducts, thereby improving their livelihoods. The farmers were excited to present the products they produced, to include a doormat, a vase holder, a pot mat, scented candles and soap. “This initiative is a big step toward ensuring that our farmers not only increase their yield but also explore new avenues for income,” said Rolando Puyod, Chairperson of the Coconut Polanco Farmers Marketing Cooperative. He challenged the farmers to utilize the knowledge they gained and to share it with their fellow cooperative members. Nora Lumawan, Chairperson of the Dinas Small Coconut Farmers Association Federation, also expressed her gratitude for the valuable insights gained throughout the training, highlighting how it would contribute to the long-term development of their communities. Also in attendance were representatives from various partner agencies, including the Provincial Planning and Development Office 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖯𝗋𝗈𝗏𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝖠𝗀𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝖮𝖿𝖿𝗂𝖼𝖾 of both provinces, PCA-ZdN, DTI-Zd𝖲 𝖺𝗇𝖽 Zd𝖭, TESDA, and Academe. This project is part of a broader effort to empower coconut farmers in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, with the ultimate goal of fostering sustainable development and improving the overall well-being of rural communities in the region. Once achieved, the coconut industry is expected to open its doors to more investments. -End-