Coconut farmers in Northern Samar are calling on the government for immediate assistance due to the continued decline in copra prices.
Farmers report that they are suffering significant losses, with the price of copra now dropping to only P17-P18 per kilo.
In a social media post by Efren Paniergo, urging the Senate, Congress, and the President to pay attention to the worsening situation in Samar, highlighting the province's struggle with the low buying price of copra.
Paniergo believes that traders are manipulating the market, drastically undervaluing the product, which has allegedly become a recurring practice among traders to drive prices down whenever there is an abundant harvest of coconuts, leaving farmers at a disadvantage.
“Sana magkaroon kayo ng agarang action kawawa naman ang mga tao sa Samar na umaasa lang sa pagko-kopra,” said Paniergo, expressing disappointment over the perceived lack of government support and attention to their plight.
He also added that the farmers' livelihoods are at risk, especially since coconut farming remains their primary source of income.
