Coconut seed farm
replenishes typhoon fallen trees

SOUTHERN LEYTE – Officials of Southern Leyte State University-Hinunangan Campus (SLSU-HC) and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the establishment of a Coconut Seed Farm for improved coconut yield and accelerate productivity in Southern Leyte.
The PCA and SLSU-HC collaboration was spearheaded by Campus Director Wade C. Lim, a passionate agriculture teacher, who made a presentation during the MOA signing ceremony at the Multipurpose Academic Building, SLSU, on March 9, 2023.
The initiative to establish a coconut seed farm is in response to the community needs in Southern Leyte, where the provincial-local government and SLSU-HC have observed the crippling effect on livelihood in the agricultural sector, following the devastation of super typhoon Odette last December 2021.
In his presentation of the project, Lim highlighted that, based on coconut statistics in 2018, Southern Leyte has at least 45,000 hectares of agricultural land devoted to coconut cultivation, and that coconut production in this area has remarkably decreased after Typhoon Odette in 2021.
Wade Lim stated that the 10-hectare coconut seed farm project can aid in tackling the major challenges in coconut-based agriculture, which include low coconut yield, monoculture planting of coconuts, pests and illnesses, lack of coconut processing businesses, and natural catastrophes.
Dr. Jude A. Duarte, the University President, welcomed the attendees and shared his message of commitment on behalf of SLSU. Second District Representative Christopher “Coco” M. Yap, who introduced the officials in the region, also gave a supportive message.
Bernie Ferrer Cruz, the Administrator of PCA Region 8, stated, “PCA’s one purpose is to create and implement interventions that would give coconut producers and the community sustainable resources. We are here to assist the government of Southern Leyte and SLSU in their efforts to restore and improve the province’s coconut output and yield.”
Present during the event were SLSU Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension Services (RIES) Dr. Francis Ann R. Sy, Dr. Rhoderick Malangsa (SLSU Director for Research and Innovation), Dr. Frederick Añiga (SLSU Director for Extension Services), Mr. Joel Pilapil (PCA Regional Manager), Dr. Ian A. Navarrete (SLSU-HC RIES Head), Dr. John Paul Gapasin (SLSU-HC College Dean), and the municipal mayors and representatives of the 2nd District of Southern Leyte.
Officials from the PCA, Congressman Yap, and other LGU representatives also made an ocular inspection of the project site located in the western and southern part of the SLSU-Hinunangan Campus.
(Nico Adam, edited by GMReyes)