Cacao-Coconut Intercropping Offers New Lifeline for Aurora Farmers

Coconut growers in San Luis, Aurora may soon gain steadier earnings after receiving 15,000 cacao seedlings for intercropping, which will boost farm output, diversify income, and strengthen community resilience, the Philippine Information Agency reported on May 08.  The seedlings were distributed to the Ditumabo Coconut and Livestock Farmers Association under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), a government program supporting coconut farmers through crop diversification and farm development. 

Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Aurora Provincial Head Aldrin Veneracion said the initiative aims to maximize idle land spaces beneath coconut trees while helping farmers reduce dependence on fluctuating copra prices. He said PCA will continue providing technical guidance, field assistance, and farmer training to support the adoption of cacao intercropping. 

The support includes farm layout planning, planting techniques, crop maintenance, harvesting, and market preparation to help ensure successful cacao production. He noted that the program follows a structured screening process to determine which farmers and organizations can participate in the intercropping initiative. Selection will depend on farm conditions, farmer readiness, organizational capacity, and alignment with CFIDP plans, to ensure the system is effective and sustainable.