MANILA, Philippines — The government is crafting a national roadmap for coconut sap sugar in collaboration with producers to win a greater share of the $1.1-billion global alternative sweetener market.
To start the ball rolling, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) administrator Euclides Forbes organized the two-day First National Coconut Sap Sugar Congress that begins at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City today. Alcala will keynote the congress.
Coconut sap sugar has made inroads into sophisticated markets like the United States and European Union.
The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) also collaborated with the DA and PCA in inviting more than 200 farmers, advocates, practitioners and other coconut industry stakeholders to discuss how the product can viably compete in the international market.
The government is interested in harnessing the potential of coconut sap sugar worldwide. President Benigno S. Aquino III stressed that increased production and export demand for coconut sap sugar will not only add more foreign exchange to the national treasury but also generate more jobs in the countryside.
Alcala said the holding of the congress is timely since coconut sap sugar had been marketed since 2007.
“It is imperative for us to set appropriate processes and product quality standards for coconut sap sugar,” he stressed.
“More important, it is necessary for us to craft and implement a unified national plan and roadmap to bolster our comparative advantage as a producer of world-class coco sugar,” Alcala said.
Forbes said he hopes the holding of the congress will lead to the establishment of a sustainable industry, implementation of product quality standards and cooperation among key industry players.
The PCA chief said coconut sap sugar is made from toddy, locally known as “tuba,” the liquid that oozes from unopened inflorescence called “spathe.” A healthy coconut tree can produce two liters of spathe a day but eight liters of the sap is needed to produce a kilo of coconut sap sugar.
Transforming the sap into sugar granules does not need expensive equipment, thus making it appropriate for farm-level production.
With a low glycemic index of 35, it is best for those suffering from diabetes mellitus or those whose families have a history of the disease, Forbes said. The sap is said to contain between 12 percent and 18 percent sugar in its natural form along with important vitamins and amino acids.
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MB.com.ph
By MARVYN N. BENANING
March 4, 2012, 4:03pm
