Dr. Pablito P. Pamplona who has recently started a big nursery for the production hybrid coconuts in a 50-hectare land in Agusan reports that in India it is possible to produce 54 metric tons of coconut sugar from one hectare planted to hybrid coconuts.

The figure was presented in a paper read at the Cocolink International Conference in Davao City on July 27-29, 2016. Here is how it is possible to produce the 54 metric tons of coco sugar per hectare which is more than the sugar from sugarcane grown on one hectare.

If grown for coco sugar production, the 175 trees in one hectare can produce 315,000 liters of tuba or toddy in one year. That’s because each tree can produce 6 liters of tuba each day for 300 days in one year. And this can be converted to 54 metric tons of coco sugar.  It is noteworthy to point out that the coco sugar also fetches a much higher price than cane sugar. Try to figure out if the coco sugar is sold at P200 or more per kilo.

The hybrids are produced by the millions by Deejay Coconut Breeding Farm with a 200-hectare production area. When grown for copra, the yield is also high because each tree can produce 250 mature nuts each year. That translates to 43,750 nuts per hectare  per year which could yield 8.75 tons of copra. The income from coco sugar, however, is much higher than from copra. But of course, there are other byproducts from nut production such as coco coir fiber, coco peat, and coco water.

Dr. Pamplona urges the government to take a good look at undertaking massive production of coconut hybrids for planting all over the country wherever coconut can grow. This could be in collaboration with private entrepreneurs.