About the Program

The Coconut Hybridization Program (CHP)

The Coconut Hybridization Program is one of the seven programs under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) through the Republic Act No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.

The DOST-PCAARRD was mandated to manage the 5% allocation from the Trust Fund for the funding of research and development (R&D) programs and projects on coconut hybridization, hybrid coconut seed farms, nurseries, and related activities.

In line with this and in support of the overall vision of the CFIDP of a “Masagana, Matatag at Progresibong Industriya ng Pagniniyog”, the Council aims to:

Improve production of hybrid coconut planting materials;
Improve the quality of planting materials and develop new hybrids;
Improve the productivity of established hybrid farms; and
Increase the income of coconut farming communities.

Genetic Resources Conservation, Management, and Utilization

Need to improve population of current and potential coconut parent materials for hybridization

Varietal Selection and Breeding

Need to improve population of current and potential coconut parent materials for hybridization

Production of Planting Materials

Limited supply of planting materials

Cultural Management

Low yield of hybrids due to poor management practices

Product Diversification and Processing

Low utilization of coconut for value-addition

R&D Results Utilization

Lack of efficient extension resulting to low adoption rate of technologies

Policy Research and Advocacy

Lack of policies that will promote use of available coconut technologies

Capability Building

Limited facilities in support of coconut hybridization

CHP ResearchStrategies

Strengthen the utilization of coconut germplasm collections for breeding and selection.
Identification and establishment of outstanding Tall populations as sources of pollens and OPVs.
Enhance the production protocol for hybridization to increase hybrid seed nut production.
Establish protocol for hybridity testing.
Population improvement and development of new hybrids through molecular breeding.
Improvement of the production protocol of CSet for propagation of hybrids and selected high-yielding varieties.

Identification of suitable areas for hybrid production and planting.
Enhance and package science-based technologies on IPM, ICM, and GAP for hybrid production.
Develop disease surveillance system and SMART-farming technologies for hybrid production
Produce IEC materials on hybrid production protocol.
Socioeconomic researches on changing patterns for handling hybrid production.
Establish modality for technology transfer.

Mapping of 1.5 M existing planted hybrid palms nationwide.
Baseline assessment of current production and productivity of existing hybrid seedfarms.
Adoption of IPM, ICM, and GAP for maintenance of hybrid seedfarm and possible organic production.
Rehabilitate existing hybrids and seedfarms.
Produce IEC materials and adopt techno-transfer modality for sustained production.

Priority ResearchAreas

Strategic R&D

Regional selection and geo-tagging of outstanding local coconut populations as sources of pollen and as parent materials for hybrid breeding
Identification and on-farm conservation of traditional and hybrid varieties with promising traits

About the Program