Baghdad:Negros Oriental Coconut farmers in Negros Oriental are being urged to diversify their crops and sources of income due to a potent El Niño forecast to impact the province until early 2027. On Friday, approximately 100 coconut farmers participated in the Provincial Coconut Summit 2026 organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Negros Oriental.
According to Philippines News Agency, Bernard Limbaga, head of the Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO) in Negros Oriental, announced that the agency is offering coconut farmers free Wagyu cattle and dairy and meat goat semen to promote livestock production as an alternative income source. He highlighted that coconut farms are conducive to raising cattle and goats, enabling farmers to earn from higher-value meat production.
During the summit, DA-PATCO distributed corn and mung bean seeds to farmers, with fertilizers to be provided later. Limbaga mentioned cloud seeding as a potential intervention during the expected dry spell and announced plans to deploy a mobile soil testing laboratory to assess land conditions and help farmers identify suitable crops.
The agency has funds under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) to support farmers with training, seed provision for diversification, and livestock upgrading. Additionally, Philippine Coconut Authority-Negros Oriental division chief I Lorra Dalumpines advised farmers to register with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to safeguard their livelihoods against crop losses during calamities. She emphasized that registered farmers are prioritized for indemnification and government assistance.
Farmers with at least 20 coconut trees, as well as workers and employees of coconut-related businesses, are eligible to register with the National Coconut Farmers Registry System. The summit also connected farmers with financing institutions like the Land Bank of the Philippines and DTI's financing arm, Small Business Corp., offering information on loans and financing opportunities. Maribel Sumanoy, chief of DTI-Negros Oriental Small and Medium Enterprise Development Division, stated that the summit serves as a platform for farmers to voice concerns and seek assistance, with DTI focusing on market promotion as part of the CFIDP's objectives.