Filippino authorities promoting consumption coconut juice

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Eastern Visayas asked the government agencies and local governments to promote the consumption of buko (young coconut) juice to raise the income of farmers affected by the steadily declining copra price. Young coconut is bought at PHP10 per piece in farms and marketed by vendors at PHP20 to PHP25 per piece. The request of the PCA is for government officials is to serve coconut water in all their activities instead of soda drinks to support local coconut industry. PCA pushed for the promotion of young coconut as copra farm gate price plunged to 11 PHP/ 22 cents per kilogram this week from 21 PHP/ 42 cents in the same period last year.