103.
HARVESTING COCONUT STEMS
By: Alfonso M.R. Mendoza*
Summary
Coconut in the Philippines dates back to pre-Spanish time and
since then, has developed into a major industry with 14 million
—
people depending on it.
It is however characterized by low.
productivity because of the increasing number of aging palms
and the lack of adequate cultural management inputs.
Hence,
the government has launched a massive replanting programme to
cover the 2.3 million hectares devoted to coconut, which will
involve the cutting down of6 million trees annually.
For technical and economic reasons, it is necessary to properly
dispose coconut trunks, hence the great Gesirability to develop
economic uses of the coconut logs.
Investigations are now
going on along this line, and some limited experiences have been
obtained on coconut stem logging,
as discussed in this papér.
Introduction
The coconut, Cocos nucifera L. has been cultivated in the
Philippines even before the coming of the Spaniards.
The
Spanish authorities, realizing the economic importance,
the planting of coconuts in 1642.
From thereon,
required
the coconut
industry grew to become a major crop of the country.
millions of trees were bearing.
;j
By 1910,
Coconut now occupies 2.3 million
hectares, providing livelihood to about 14 million people.
The
Philippines is the leading coconut producer and contributes about
or
70% to the international trade in coconut products.
oo
beens EP
Oe ee
.
Oconut belongs to the palm family, growing favourably within
20° north and south of the equator.
éS high as 900 meters.
It can thrive in altitude
As a monocotyledon, coconut has neither /
"Senior Deputy Administrator, Philippine Coconut Authority
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines