Coconut-based Women Entrepreneurship Initiative

Dear Friend,

Warm greetings and thank you very much for your generous support to our initiative providing for women coconut farmers venturing into small enterprises. This project is gaining momentum as prices of coconuts at present is high and farmers enjoy also good harvest. The dry season caused by El Nino as predicted did not materialize adding to the positive situation as coconuts are rain-dependent. This reporting period we helped a women's association make use of coconut by-products mainly coconut husk to make coir dust for sale in the market. There are many uses of coir dust like fertilizer, garden pots and soil additives as they retain moisture. Market of the product is high as they are also being promoted by local government agencies. We intend to make this a larger enterprise because coconut husk only go to waste and not useful. Other products we intend to use for the market are products coming from coconut shell and coconut fronds. Hoping for your continuing help to this initiative. Thank you very much.

Very sincerely yours,

Cora Sayre

Dear Friend,

Greetings and thank you very much for your continuing support to our project improving the lives of women farmers involved in coconut farming. Coconuts are grown 10 meters apart and this situation is ideal in the growing of other crops in the open spaces in between the coconuts. There are a lot of shade crops with high value that can be raised and where income is generated by farmers. This reporting period we are happy to report that the crops grown under coconuts by our farmers is starting to bear fruit and these are high-valued fruit trees like cacao, lanzones, durian, mango, among others. We have about 1,200 women farmers being supported this way and this is indeed great news. Hoping that you will continue to support us. Thank you very much.

Very sincerely yours,

Cora Sayre