Philippine coconut farmers' woes in the spotlight at World Coconut Congress

Coconut oil is the Southeast Asian nation’s top agricultural export, but prices can vary widely such as when supply dwindles during typhoons.

Coconut farmers and workers in the Philippines like Alexis Rea have long struggled to reap the full economic benefits of their harvests. Five years ago, he left his job near the capital Manila and travelled about 200km to work on farms in his hometown of Atimonan in Quezon province, in order to be closer to his wife and children.

While his take-home pay is higher now, he told CNA finding work would be easier if there were more coconut farms. “I earn just enough for our daily needs, so when one job on a coconut farm ends, I have to find another,” he added. The Philippines is the world’s second-largest coconut producer after Indonesia, with coconut oil as its top agricultural export. Coconut oil is also tariff-free in the latest list of exemptions under United States President Donald Trump's tariff impositions.

An average of US$2 billion in coconut-derived products are exported yearly from the country, providing a livelihood to about 3 million Filipino farmers. Government data as of 2023 showed the country has 3.6 million hectares of coconut farms.

You know how the taste of tuna declined after they took the dolphins out?

Same thing with coconut water now that its monkey free.

Imagine the horrors for all of those poor out of work monkeys having to turn to crime just to feed their families.

(Im waiting for one of FRs perpetually triggered boomers to jump in and tell me how racist I am...)

Coconut water the ultimate hangover cure, it’s so isotonic you can inject it directly into a vein(do not do this with unsterilized product!) During WWII coconut water was used as a plasma blood replacement and blood expander for critically ill / wounded patients.

It has the same sodium potassium balance that blood does, plus zinc, magnesium,iron all in the exact ratio the human body requires. There are no less than 4 indigenous peoples that the words for that tree translate to “the tree of life” you can survive on coconut water and coconut flesh alone. In South Asia the left over coconut pulp after you press the oil out is the primary protein and carbohydrate source for hogs in that region. Soybeans are a far far distant second source. It’s a large part of chicken feed in that region as well. Every part of the coconut tree is useful. There is only one species of coconut it’s the same all over the planet. The seeds float and when they land on a beach they sense the sand and only then start to germinate, the tree can take full seawater for limited periods of time and brackish water indefinitely. One of the planets truly amazing species, only Agave takes its rightful place as the king of the land plant’s.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.