Cocopeat from coconut husks to raise farmers’ earnings

This is in relation to the news item titled “Coconut husks touted as next big PH export,” which was written by Leila B. Salaverria (Inquirer, 6/17/12).

In the municipality of Pagsanjan and other coconut-producing towns of Laguna, we are using coconut husks to cook our food, roast pigs for lechon and bake bibingka or rice cakes. Many of the coconut husks are left in the farm only to rot.

We, coconut farmers, therefore, welcome and fully support the move of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization to “make export-grade cocopeat” from coconut husks. The production of cocopeat from coconut husks will boost the income of coconut farmers.

—CRISOSTOMO B. VILAR,

vice mayor,

Pagsanjan, Laguna