DA eyes dev’t plan for Northern Samar’s pili nuts

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 9  -- A roadmap for the development of pili nuts in Eastern Samar is being eyed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to increase its output and meet the growing global demand.

Francisco Dayap, chief of DA regional field operations division, said key officials of the agriculture department, Department of Trade and Industry, and other stakeholders will meet within this year to draft the first ever comprehensive plan for pili nuts.

“Of all areas in Eastern Visayas, Northern Samar is the priority since it is the only province with pili nuts plantation influenced by Bicol Region’s cultivation practice. In fact, many pili nuts processors in Bicol get their raw materials from their neighboring Northern Samar province,” Dayap said in an interview Wednesday.

Pili trees have been thriving in the towns of Lavezares, Allen, San Isidro, and Bobon in Northern Samar. These towns are close to the seaport that links Northern Samar to Sorsogon.

About 15,000 pili trees have been planted in 90 to 100 hectares owned by local farmers.

The roadmap will outline support to reinforce the pili nut production in the province, expand plantation, and improve productivity.

Over the past years, the DA has been distributing grafted planting materials that will yield in three years. Each tree produces 60 to 100 kilograms of nuts each year. Harvesting is year round but peak harvest is June and July.

The Philippines has the monopoly for pili nuts in the foreign market. The product is exported to countries like Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The pili nut is endemic in the country. It has different uses - its tree can be used for landscaping, the young shoots and the fruit pulp of pili are edible, its roots can prevents landslides, and a lot more. (SQM/PNA)