MASSIVE
INFESTATION OF COCONUT TREES
Greatest
Agricultural Crisis of History Looms
eastwind journals 107
By Bernie Lopez
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Disclaimer – the views in this article are those of the author’s alone.
it is the nature of greed
to be blind to consequences
no matter how serious
Today,
we are facing the greatest agricultural crisis in Philippine history. The
Coconut Industry, which supports 25 million Filipinos (PCA), is slowly dying
because of a massive insect infestation. Todate, it has claimed 2 million
trees, mainly in the CALABARZON area and in Zamboanga. It is spreading rapidly
and everyone is in panic.
THE
DA-PCA HAS COME UP WITH AN ‘EMERGENCY’ CHEMICAL ‘SOLUTION’ TO SAVE THE COCONUT INDUSTRY
WHEN IT WILL ACTUALLY KILL THE COCONUT INDUSTRY. WHY DOES THE DA-PCA INSIST ON THE
CHEMICAL OPTION? SIMPLE, IT BRINGS THEM BIG
BUCKS. THEY WILL RISK THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY FOR
THEIR BIG BUCKS.
Of our 340 million trees in 2012, 40% are too old, leaving us with 204
million productive trees, according to Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)
figures. Yolanda destroyed 33 million trees, and the infestation has so far
destroyed 2 million, leaving us with a net of 169 million trees. After Yolanda
and with the infestation, we have so far lost 20% or a fifth of our coconut
trees.
The irony is, the infestation is easy to arrest using inexpensive organic
means. There have been several successes from the private sector. But the
DA-PCA insists on a chemical solution. The chemical option involves the use of
a highly toxic chemical injected into the trunk of the tree. Vendors complain
that chemicalized trees produce sour juice, which is no longer sellable. When the whole
world learns Philippine coconut has been chemicalized, the entire multi-billion
industry will collapse. Exporters of coconut-derived products will
lose their international organic certificates. Even our household is affected.
You do not know if the coco oil you use for frying is infected or not. Since coco oil is
used in homes and restaurants, the effect is massive.
Why big bucks? First, there is reportedly an allocation of P700 million
for the chemical solution program. Second, the expensive imported chemical
translates into billions in sales, if even just 1 million trees are treated out
of the existing 169 million. According to an Inquirer report, the deadly chemical is marketed by LEADS Agricultural
Products, Inc., whose Chair and President is Fernando Maldeva, a UP
frat brother of Dr. Rey Velasco, a PCA consultant. Velasco is the former Chancellor
of UP Los Banos.
ADDENDUM
– reaction from a reader and reply
Reader, "Who would do such a
thing?", as if this heinous crime is something no one in his right mind
would dare to do. My reply, “These people are so blind in their greed, they are
ignorant of or insensitive to the massive consequences of their actions.”
The infestation began in 2009. Until lately, with its chemical
solution, PCA had done nothing to contain the infestation. The private sector
was forced to take the initiative, finding successful organic solutions, which
the PCA rejected. Why? Big bucks? PCA wants to save face and be blameless by
acting as the ‘hero’ in giving its last-two-minutes chemical solution.
President Aquino promulgated EO 169 which empowers the DA-PCA to find a
solution to the crisis. (Note the numerology omen – 169 million trees left, EO
169). The use of chemicals is not stated by the EO. It is enough that the
DA-PCA is empowered and has the legal means to use chemicals on the pretext of
an emergency situation. The EO does not have an Implementing Rules and
Regulation (IRR) yet, but PCA is gung-ho in the big-bucks chemical program. There
were rumors from unidentified sources that PCA will start its chemical program
this June, which remains to be verified.
It has been suggested that President Aquino should step in. The demise
of our Coconut Industry through the use of chemicals will be blamed on him. The
lives of millions of marginal Filipinos is in his hand. If he does not act, it
will also imply he allows the big-bucks program in behalf of his people at DA-PCA.
A coconut expert says the insect infestation is a product of climate
change. The warm weather has triggered an ‘insect bloom’. What is dangerous is
– the insect also attacks fruit trees such as mango, another big export
industry.
A decade ago, the Philippines was the biggest producer of copra or
dessicated coconut in the world. Now, Indonesia has overtaken us because of a
myopic government with its corrupt agencies whose only concern is big bucks.
Once, we were the sole producer of macapuno,
now Thailand has a ‘Macapuno Island’ built by Filipino consultants. We have to
urgently replace old trees. The culture of just leaving coconut trees alone and
harvesting is no longer acceptable. We have to have an aggressive R&D
program to respond to the market and to climate change. Quo vadis, Filipino? eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com
****************************************
PRAYERS FOR A GOOD
HARVEST
do not seek to
understand incomprehensible mysteries
such as how and when the
rain and wind will come
you know not the work of
the Lord
rather sow your seeds
wherever you have land
if you know not where
the flood will fall
let the Lord decide your
fate and just do your part
Ecclesiastes 11:1-8
if you offer all
to Him in your need
your poverty will
save you
if a storm wipes
out your harvest
sow your seeds
once more
the Lord restores
the ravaged fields
of those who labor
in His name
sanctify the
fruits you did not harvest
in the Lord who
will replace them
eastwind
just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return until
they have watered the earth
making it fertile and
fruitful to give seed to him who sows
and bread to him who
labor, so shall My Word
Isaiah 55:6-11
for those with terminal ailments
see healing guidelines and schedules at
or inquire at
amdg
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