Ibinahagi ni Senator Cynthi Villar ang paglalaan ng P1 bilyon para sa mga pagtataniman ng hybrid coconut seeds.
Ayon kay Villar ang proyekto ay magkatuwang na ikakasa ng Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development at Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
Ibinahagi nito na sa ngayon ang bawat puno ay namumunga lang ng hanggang 40 niyog at ito aniya ang nais niyang mapalago para mapalawig ang pag-export ng mga produktong-niyog.
“With hybrid coconuts, we are expecting 150 nuts per tree annually. Surely, increased production together with other support in the form of training, insurance provision, crop diversification, research and product marketing, credit facilities, organization empowerment, infrastructure development, scholarship, and health and medical assistance will break our coconut farmers and their family from poverty,” ang mensahe ni Villars a pagdiriwang ng Coco Month ng PCA.
Ibinahagi din niya ang pagsasabatas ng RA 11524 o ang Coconut Industry Trust Fund na aniya ay makakapagpabago ng buhay ng tinatayang 3.5 milyong coconut farmers sa bansa.
“The coconut trust fund belongs to our coconut farmers and their families. With provision of scholarship for our coconut farmers and their children, an annual allocation of 8% and 10% for health and medical programs on top of Philhealth coverage, I am confident this will improve the quality of lives of our coconut farmers,” sabi pa ng namumuno sa Senate Committee on Agriculture.