July 09, 2025 | OFI Magazine |
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has ordered a doubling of the country’s coconut planting target to 50 million trees in 2025, as part of a five-year goal to plant 100 million trees by 2028. Backed by a PHP7 billion (US$122.5 million) budget, the initiative aims to restore the Philippines’ position as the world’s top coconut producer. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the involvement of local farming communities to accelerate seedling production. The program responds to aging coconut trees nationwide, with many considered “senile,” which lowers productivity. In 2024, 8.5 million trees were planted, with a further 15 million targeted by year-end. Rising global demand for coconut oil—fueled partly by the EU Deforestation Regulation, which excludes coconut oil—has increased the urgency for replanting. Coconut oil is gaining favor as a sustainable alternative to palm oil. In 2024, Indonesia produced 17.13 million tons of coconuts, while the Philippines harvested 14.77 million tons. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture has allocated PHP1.8 billion (US$31.5 million) for fertilization, aiming to increase yields from 40 to at least 60 nuts per tree annually through the use of agricultural-grade salt, while waiting for new trees to reach maturity.
