PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 4:18 PM by Luigi

Copra in Asia-Pacific: Bad news

By Kalvau Moli

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, July 6) -- Delegates at the 41st Cocotech meeting at Luganville were told that productivity in the coconut sector has not substantially increased in the past four decades and is experiencing a downturn in some areas.

Addressing yesterday’s meeting, that brought together 14 members countries, Executive Director of Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), Dr. P. Rethinam revealed, "If we look at the world average productivity of copra, productivity it is only 0.89 ton copra/per/ha per year equivalent while the APCC member countries average is only 0.83 ton/copra per ha/per year except for Thailand and Vietnam. He listed most island nations within the pacific region as member countries that have been experiencing down turn in productivity level."

"Vanuatu productivity has dropped from 0.61 tons/per ha/per year to 0.50 over a period of thirty two years.

"In the thirst to find land for growing food crops, as well as to meet the growing demands for housing and industrial needs there is not much scope for horizontal area expansion in many of the coconut growing countries but there is greater scope for consolidation in areas of gap filling like in replanting and under planting thereby increasing the productivity considerably."

He raised the APCC’s concern that market wise, the governments will not be able to do every thing to assist the industry a lot will depend on the private sector, joint ventures and political will in the coconut sector.

The APCC Executive Director also confirmed that he intends to pledge this years APCC convention for year 2005 to be noted as, "year of the coconut."

In adding, he stated, "Over the last two years, the copra prices for copra and coconut oil are going up and all are happy. But as long as we are not increasing the productivity per palm or per unit area, the income increase cannot be a sustainable one."

"I am asking every member country to formulate short term strategy towards making their coconut industry more competitive."

He made an appeal for a joint effort by all member countries to come up with a new road map whereby the coconut production can again be revived.

The four-day meeting, which is held back to back with the APCC’s second coconut festival, was opened by the Interim minister of Trade and Industries, Willie Jimmy Tapangararua who made a pledge to the Coconut community to join hands in the effort to improve and sustain the industry. Regarding Vanuatu's situation, Jimmy made two proposals for assistance asking APCC to help Vanuatu in setting two processing units- one to process coconut husk into fiber.

July 7, 2004

Vanuatu Daily Post: http://www.vanuatudaily.com/



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DIVA-GIS	Wednesday, July 07, 2004 Posted 4:18 PM by Luigi Copra in Asia-Pacific: Bad news By Kalvau Moli PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, July 6) -- Delegates at the 41st Cocotech meeting at Luganville were told that productivity in the coconut sector has not substantially increased in the past four decades and is experiencing a downturn in some areas. Addressing yesterday’s meeting, that brought together 14 members countries, Executive Director of Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), Dr. P. Rethinam revealed, "If we look at the world average productivity of copra, productivity it is only 0.89 ton copra/per/ha per year equivalent while the APCC member countries average is only 0.83 ton/copra per ha/per year except for Thailand and Vietnam. He listed most island nations within the pacific region as member countries that have been experiencing down turn in productivity level." "Vanuatu productivity has dropped from 0.61 tons/per ha/per year to 0.50 over a period of thirty two years. "In the thirst to find land for growing food crops, as well as to meet the growing demands for housing and industrial needs there is not much scope for horizontal area expansion in many of the coconut growing countries but there is greater scope for consolidation in areas of gap filling like in replanting and under planting thereby increasing the productivity considerably." He raised the APCC’s concern that market wise, the governments will not be able to do every thing to assist the industry a lot will depend on the private sector, joint ventures and political will in the coconut sector. The APCC Executive Director also confirmed that he intends to pledge this years APCC convention for year 2005 to be noted as, "year of the coconut." In adding, he stated, "Over the last two years, the copra prices for copra and coconut oil are going up and all are happy. But as long as we are not increasing the productivity per palm or per unit area, the income increase cannot be a sustainable one." "I am asking every member country to formulate short term strategy towards making their coconut industry more competitive." He made an appeal for a joint effort by all member countries to come up with a new road map whereby the coconut production can again be revived. The four-day meeting, which is held back to back with the APCC’s second coconut festival, was opened by the Interim minister of Trade and Industries, Willie Jimmy Tapangararua who made a pledge to the Coconut community to join hands in the effort to improve and sustain the industry. Regarding Vanuatu's situation, Jimmy made two proposals for assistance asking APCC to help Vanuatu in setting two processing units- one to process coconut husk into fiber. July 7, 2004 Vanuatu Daily Post: http://www.vanuatudaily.com/ * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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