The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Baños (UPLB) will conduct the baseline assessment of the coconut industry in Catanauan, Quezon on 20 to 26 July 2022. This activity is in line with initial agreement between SEARCA and Quezon Province to develop a three-year project on the development of an integrated and vibrant coconut industry in the Province supported by solid partnerships among the local government, farmer associations, private sector industry players, research organizations, as well as other institutions of higher learning.
This week-long activity will include a survey activity spearheaded Dr. Pedcris M. Orencio, SEARCA’s Program Head for Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD), and Ms. Blanquita Pantoja, Technical Coordinator and University Researcher from UPLB. It will be conducted by representatives from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Quezon and the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA) of Catanauan together with the student-interns from UPLB’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (DAAE).
They will administer a survey tool through a face-to-face interview with the members of six (6) coconut farmer associations in Barangay San Antonio Pala, namely, San Antonio Pala Virgin Coconut Association (SAP-VCOA), San Antonio Pala Lambanog Producers Association (SAP-LPA), San Antonio Pala Coconut Sugar Producer Association (SAP-CSPA), and San Antonio Pala Buko Juice Producer Association (SAP-BJPA).
The information that will be gathered will be specifically used to develop the current baseline conditions of the target communities, which will be used as inputs to the rapid value chain assessment of the coconut industry in Catanauan, and in mapping out coconut industry growth areas towards crafting commodity-specific roadmaps.