Coconut farmers in Negros Oriental are urged to diversify their crops and sources of income as a very strong El Niño threatens to affect the province through early 2027.
On Friday, some 100 coconut farmers attended the Provincial Coconut Summit 2026 in Dumaguete City, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Negros Oriental.
Bernard Limbaga, head of the Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO) in Negros Oriental, said the agency is offering coconut farmers free Wagyu cattle and dairy and meat goat semen to encourage livestock production as an alternative source of income.
He said coconut farms provide suitable conditions for raising cattle and goats, allowing farmers to generate additional earnings from higher-value meat production.
During the summit, DA-PATCO also distributed sacks of corn seeds and mung bean seeds to farmers, with fertilizers set to be provided at a later date.
Limbaga said the agency is also considering cloud seeding as a possible intervention during the anticipated dry spell.
In addition, a DA-PATCO mobile soil testing laboratory will be deployed to different areas upon request to assess conditions and help farmers identify crops suitable for their land.
He said the agency has funding under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) to support farmers through training, the provision of seeds for livelihood diversification and livestock upgrading.
Meanwhile, Philippine Coconut Authority-Negros Oriental division chief I Lorra Dalumpines encouraged coconut farmers to register with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to help protect their livelihoods against potential crop losses, particularly during calamities.
Dalumpines said farmers may register with the National Coconut Farmers Registry System, the government’s official database of legitimate coconut farmers.
She said registered farmers are prioritized for indemnification and other forms of government assistance.
Farmers with at least 20 planted coconut trees are eligible to register, along with workers, employees and staff of coconut-related businesses, she added.
The summit also provided farmers with access to financing institutions, including the Land Bank of the Philippines, DTI’s financing arm Small Business Corp. and the DCCCO Multi-purpose Cooperative, which offered information and assistance on available loans and other financing opportunities.
Maribel Sumanoy, chief of the DTI-Negros Oriental Small and Medium Enterprise Development Division, said the summit serves as a platform for coconut farmers to raise their concerns and seek assistance from government agencies involved in the industry.
“Actually, the DTI is one of 13 agencies implementing the CFIDP and we have our specific objectives and tasks included in this program,” Sumanoy said.
She explained that DTI focuses on market promotion, while other agencies address the various needs of coconut farmers, including production support and livelihood development.*PNA
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