Sustainable Copra Production

Transcription

1 Soil and Ecosystem Conservation Weeds, such as Cogon grass, can get out of control if you do not control them early, and they reduce production. We encourage to control weeds by regular manual weeding to prevent competition for nutrients. Planting covercrops such as Centrosema, and Siratro can also be an effective weed control. Weeds can develop resistance against herbicides, and herbicide destroys the soil and causes erosion. Some herbicides are prohibited chemicals. (Critical criterion 8.4) Conserve soil moisture and fertility, and control weed growth by mulching with coconut husks and organic material around the base of the palms. Do not hunt, capture or kill wild animals, such as birds and lizards. Put up signs on the farm to let everyone know that hunting is prohibited on the farm. Page 1

2 Soil and Ecosystem Conservation When the river banks are exposed, the river gets wide and wider, and the farm gets smaller and smaller due to soil erosion. Establish buffer zones along river banks to prevent soil erosion and to protect the farms. Slashing and burning to open land destroys all plants and wildlife in the area. (Critical criteria 2.2 and 9.5) Convert non-productive areas into conservation areas and plant native species. Planting coconuts on steep slopes causes erosion, as the soil gets washed away downwards. Page 2 Plant coconuts on gentle slopes where possible. On steeper slopes, prevent soil erosion by planting covercrop and establishing vegetative barriers.

3 Integrated Pest and Disease Management Do not use banned chemicals, which are highly hazardous to the environment and human health. (Critical criterion 8.4) We encourage to use biological control for pests and diseases. Lack of pest prevention program and pest monitoring and control will allow the pests and diseases to multiply and to become uncontrollable. Monitor pests and diseases regularly, and take actions to prevent an outbreak. Agrochemicals are dangerous. They enter the body through the skin, nose, or mouth. They can hurt the eyes. They can cause poisoning and eventually death. Wear proper personal protective equipment when handling pesticides. Do not expose your body to the agrochemicals. Page 3

4 Soil and Ecosystem Conservation Planting trees too close to each other results in trees with low production. Planting only coconut makes farms vulnerable to the fluctuating prices of copra. Intercropping is recommended but be careful not to plant any GMO crop, such as BT Corn.(Critical criterion 8.6) Excessive fertilization is costly and may lead to increased soil acidity and reduce fertility. Not fertilizing at all will stunt the trees and lead to low productivity. Page 4 Plant coconut at 10m X 10m. This allows sunlight and nutrient to be well distributed among the trees and increases productivity. Intercropping with cocoa, coffee or fruits, such as papaya, pineapple and banana maximizes potential of the land and stabilizes farm income. Apply fertilizers based on soil analysis. Apply common salt or rock salt (NaCl) to increase copra yield. For bearing palms in areas of even rainfall, apply 1kg to 2kg of salt per tree once a year.

5 Copra Quality Harvesting immature nuts results in rubbery copra with high moisture content and low oil content. Immature nuts are lighter compared to mature nuts. For high copra yields and high copra quality, harvest mature nuts about 11 or 12 months old after fruit formation. Exposing nuts under the sun would lead to cracking of nuts and their degraded quality. Protect the nuts from the sun after harvest by storing them in the shade or keeping them covered. Drying on a tapahan or on a pavement leads to lower quality of copra. Page 5 By using a kukum dryer, you can get a maximum amount of high quality copra. Use coconut husks for the kukum.

6 Sustainable Farm Management Do not climb the trees and harvest coconuts alone, as it is more dangerous in case of an accident. Harvest in a pair or a group to support each other in case of accidents. Burning of husks to get rid of it in the field is wasting precious fuel and contributes to global warming. Use coconut husks for kukum drying or for mulching. It is converting a waste product into fuel. Do not burn waste or throw them into rivers and streams. Burning of waste produces toxic fumes that are hazardous to human health. (Critical criterion 4.7) Segregate wastes, and compost organic waste to produce organic fertilizer for your farm. Page 6

7 Sustainable Farm Management Coconuts grow poorly in waterlogged soils. The roots cannot develop properly and the plants suffer from malnutrition. Coconuts start to decline when they reach 60 years old. Fruits are fewer and harvesting is difficult. When there is no intercropping, it is good to integrate livestock to control weeds and provide manure. Small livestock (e.g. goats) requires less capital and is easier to start. Page 7 Construct drainage canals to remove stagnating water in the area. Replant using high yielding and resistant varieties of coconut seedlings. Refer to PCA for seedling source. Large livestock (e.g. cows) can potentially be very profitable, but it requires a bigger capital.