PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
ii 
 Contents  1 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  iv 2 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  1 3 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  1 4 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  1 5 
4 Recommended practices ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  4 6 
4.1 Site selection and management  ................................ ................................ .............................  4 7 
4.2 Farm planning and production site mapping  ................................ ................................ .. 5 8 
4.3 Sourcing and selection of planting materials  ................................ ................................ ... 6 9 
4.3.1  General considerations  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 6 10 
4.3.2  Sourcing and selection of seednuts  ................................ ................................ ...............  6 11 
4.4 Farm establishment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  7 12 
4.4.1  Land preparation  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  7 13 
4.4.2  Field layout and planting  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 7 14 
4.4.3  Planting and replanting of damaged palms  ................................ ...............................  7 15 
4.5 Farm maintenance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  8 16 
4.5.1  Soil and soil conservation  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 8 17 
4.5.2  Fertilizers and soil amendments  ................................ ................................ ...................  8 18 
4.5.3  Water  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  9 19 
4.5.4  Management of coconut palms  ................................ ................................ .......................  9 20 
4.6 Farm diversification  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  11 21 
4.6.1 Intercropping  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  11 22 
4.6.2  Livestock integration  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  11 23 
4.7 Harvesting and postharvest handling  ................................ ................................ ...............  11 24 
4.7.1  Harvesting  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  11 25 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
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 4.7.2  Transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  12 26 
4.7.3  Storage facilities  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  13 27 
4.8 Environmental safety  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  13 28 
4.9 Worker’s health, safety, and welfare  ................................ ................................ .................  13 29 
4.9.1  Labor conditions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  13 30 
4.9.2  Safety  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 14 31 
4.9.3  Training  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 14 32 
4.10  Waste management  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  14 33 
4.11  Documentation and records  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 14 34 
Annex A  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  17 35 
Annex B  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  18 36 
Annex C  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  20 37 
Annex D  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  22 38 
Annex E  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  23 39 
Annex F  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  25 40 
Annex G  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  30 41 
Annex H  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  31 42 
Annex I  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  34 43 
 44 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 Foreword  45 
The Philippine National Standard (PNS) Code of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for 46 
Coconut intends to provide guidelines in the production and primary processing of 47 
coconut.  The practices enumerated in the Standard are aimed towards prevention and 48 
reduction of risk occurrences, which include those of food safety, environmental impact, 49 
worker’s health, safety, and welfare, and product quality.  50 
As per the request of the Philipp ine Coconut Authority (PCA) to develop the Standard, 51 
the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) created a Technical Working 52 
Group (TWG) authorized under Special Orders No. 605 and 683 Series of 2017.The TWG 53 
was composed of the following agenc ies, institutions, and groups: Food and Nutrition 54 
Research Institute (FNRI), Philippine Coconut Research and Development Foundation, 55 
Inc. (PCRDF), United Coconut Associations of the Philippines (UCAP), University of the 56 
Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Laguna  Cacao Farmers Association – Kaanib Majayjay, 57 
and Kaaniban ng Magniniyog sa Laguna.  58 
This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the BPS Directives, 59 
Part 3. 60 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 1 Scope  61 
This standard code of practice covers the general hygienic practices for the production 62 
and primary processing of coconuts cultivated for both industrial applications and 63 
human consumption. It applies for all the steps from farm establishment, planting 64 
mat erial sourcing to harvesting of fresh young  coconut  (buko) , makapuno,  sap/toddy, 65 
and mature coconut fruits.  66 
2 Normative references  67 
The tiles of the standard publications referred to in this standard are listed on the inside 68 
back cover . 69 
3 Terms and definitions  70 
3.1 71 
agricultural inputs  72 
any incoming material (e.g. seeds, fertilizers, water, agricultural chemicals, plant 73 
support, etc.) used for the primary production of coconut  74 
3.2 75 
agricultural  wastes  76 
generally regarded as unwanted or unsalable materials produced fr om agricultural 77 
operations directly related to the growing of coconut and other crops or animals. It 78 
covers both biodegradable and non -biodegradable materials  79 
3.3 80 
appropriate government agency /competent authority  81 
entity/agency  that has the knowledge, expertise, and authority as designated by law  82 
3.4 83 
biological control  84 
use of competing biologicals (such as insects, microorganisms and/or microbial 85 
metabolites) for the control of mites, pests, plant pathogens and spoilage organism s 86 
3.5 87 
biopesticide  88 
pesticide that is manufactured from biological sources  89 
 90 
3.6 91 
cleaning  92 
removal of soil, dirt, grease or other foreign matter   93 
3.7 94 
coconut  95 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 palm (Cocos nucifera  L.) or its components, including its  drupe or fruit which contains a 96 
unique range of oils, proteins, carbohydrates (including  dietary fiber), sugars, minerals 97 
and water, an d the aqueous effusion from the inflorescence  98 
 3.7.1   99 
fresh young coconut (buko)  100 
 coconut fruit harvested 9 months from spathe opening, the meat  (solid)  is ten der 101 
and water (liquid) has relatively sweet taste  102 
 103 
 3.7.2  104 
 makapuno  105 
mutant coconut with soft endosperm which fills the nut cavity  and contains little 106 
or no water  107 
  108 
 3.7.3  109 
mature coconut  110 
 11 to 12 -month old coconut  111 
  112 
 3.7.4 113 
 sap/toddy  114 
sweet  translucent  liquid obtained from tapping of unopened inflorescence 115 
(spadix) of coconut  116 
3.8 117 
composting  118 
process where organic materials are subjected to moisture, heat and microorganisms 119 
for a specified period to produce a product known as compost  120 
3.9 121 
contamination  122 
unwanted presence in a commodity, storage place, conveyance, or container, of any 123 
material (including a regulated organism) that may pose a biosecurity risk  124 
3.10  125 
debris  126 
stumps, felled palms, logs  127 
 128 
3.11  129 
farmer  130 
any person that undertakes one or more of the f ollowing: cultivation, harvesting, and 131 
postharvest practices  132 
3.12 133 
fertigation  134 
application of nutrients through irrigation  135 
3.13 136 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 fertilizer  137 
any substance – solid or liquid – or any nutrient element or elements – organic or 138 
inorganic – singly or in combinatio n with other materials, applied directly to the soil for 139 
the purpose of promoting plant growth, increasing crop yield or improving their quality   140 
3.14 141 
hazard  142 
biological, chemical or physical agent in, or condition of, food with the potential to cause 143 
an adverse health and environmental effect/s  144 
3.15 145 
Integrated Pest Manag ement (IPM)  146 
pest management approach that uses all available pest control methods including but 147 
not limited to judicious use of pesticides, to optimize a crop’s ability to resist the pest 148 
with the least hazard to man and the environment  149 
3.16 150 
manure  151 
animal excrement which may be mixed with litter or other material, and which may be 152 
fermented or otherwise treated  153 
3.17 154 
maturity index  155 
indicator used to measure or predict the maturity of coconut  for harvesting purposes  156 
 157 
3.18  158 
organic material  159 
material originating from plants and animals and not from synthetic sources  160 
3.19 161 
pest  162 
unwanted animal or plant that affects the production, quality and safety of fruit and 163 
vegetables – for example, insects, d iseases, weeds, rodents and birds  164 
3.20 165 
pesticide  166 
any substance or product, or mixture thereof, including active ingredients, adjuvants 167 
and pesticide formulations, intended to control, prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate 168 
directly or indirectly, any pest. Th e term shall be understood to include insecticide, 169 
fungicide, bactericide, nemat icide, herbicide, molluscicide, avicide, rodenticide, plant 170 
regulator, defoliant, desiccant and the like  171 
3.21 172 
pesticide residue  173 
any specified substance in food, agricultural commodities, or animal feed resulting from 174 
the use of a pesticide. The term includes any derivatives of a pesticide, such as 175 
conversion products, metabolites, reaction products, and impurities considered to be of 176 
toxicological significance  177 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 3.22 178 
pre-harvest interval (PHI)  179 
number  of days between the last spraying and harvest. It is derived from a supervised 180 
pesticide residue trial where the pesticide is applied at the recommended rates and the 181 
residue levels are analysed. Each pesticide active ingredient (AI) has its own PHI  182 
3.23 183 
primary processing  184 
preparation and/or  transformation of a raw material for further processing  185 
3.24 186 
re-entry period  187 
period  of time immediately following the application of a pesticide during which 188 
unprotected farmers should not enter a field  189 
3.25 190 
risk 191 
chan ce of something happening that will impact upon a hazard (for example, food 192 
safety). It is usually measured in terms of likelihood and severity  193 
3.26 194 
sensitive areas  195 
areas at risk of environmental harm from chemicals, water, nutrients, waste, and so on, 196 
originating from property activity. Examples include biodiverse areas, other crops, 197 
livestock areas, water sources, marine areas, wetlands, native fauna and flora, soils, 198 
neighboring properties and public areas  199 
3.27 200 
site  201 
defined area on the property – for exa mple, a production site  202 
3.28 203 
soil additives  204 
products or materials that are added to the soil to improve fertility, structure or control 205 
weeds. Examples are animal manure, sawdust, compost, seaweed, fish -based products  206 
4 Recommended practices  207 
4.1 Site selection  and management   208 
Coconut farms should be located in areas suitable for food production and processing , 209 
preferably with an altitude of not more than 600 meters above sea level for optimum 210 
growth. Optimum conditions for coconut production are found in Annex A. 211 
Management of site activities conforms to country environmental legislation covering 212 
air, water, noise, soil, biodiversity and other environmental issues.  213 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 In the case of new site(s), the risk of causing environmental harm within or outside the 214 
site shou ld be assessed for the proposed use. Risk assessment should consider the prior 215 
use of the site and potential impact of adjacent sites to the new site(s).   216 
If results of the evaluation of the production or adjoining sites lead to the conclusion 217 
that potenti al hazard exist, the sites should be further evaluated through analysis and 218 
characterization of the identified contaminants.  219 
If the contaminants are found to be at unacceptable levels, the site should not be used 220 
for production and primary processing until  corrective or control measures are carried 221 
out. 222 
Whenever remedial action is required to manage the risk, the action taken should be 223 
monitored to ensure that contamination of the produce is eliminated or kept within 224 
acceptable levels.  225 
4.2 Farm plan ning  and pro duction site map ping  226 
A production site map should be prepared to show the condition of the farm or how the 227 
farm is inten ded to be developed.  It should indicate the topography and the locations of 228 
the following:  229 
 coconut  production area;  230 
 primary processing area;  231 
 intercropping and livestock integration (if applicable) ; 232 
 sources of water used on the farm (well, reservoir, rivers, lakes, farm ponds, 233 
etc.) ; 234 
 chemical pesticides and fertilizer storage and mixing areas;  235 
 tools and equipment cleaning and disinfection areas;  236 
 storage area for tools and equipment;  237 
 water storage, distribution networks, drainage, and discharge points of waste 238 
water;  239 
 solid waste disposal area;  240 
 composting areas;  241 
 toilet facilities and hand -washing areas;  and 242 
 property buildings, structures , and road networks . 243 
Each production area, in case of multiple production areas in a site, should be identified 244 
by a name or code, and must be indicated in the property map.  245 
All hazard and risk areas to humans should be clearly indicated.  246 
All facilities and  structures for coconut production should be properly designed, 247 
constructed , and maintained to minimize postharvest losses and risk of contamination. 248 
All premises should adhere to the guidelines set by the appropriate  government agency.  249 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 4.3 Sourcing and selec tion of planting materials  250 
4.3.1  General considerations  251 
Aside from yield quantity and quality as basic considerations, varieties to be grown 252 
should be selected based on market requirements, farmer  preference , and adaptability 253 
to the locality.  Other considerations may include soil type and nutrient levels, water   254 
availability, prevailing t emperatures and humidity, and pest and disease history . 255 
For efficient chemical, water and other input utilization, plantin g materials may be 256 
selected based on their nutrient and water use efficiencies, and pests and diseases 257 
resistance.  258 
The planting materials should be of high quality and shall be sourced from Philippine 259 
Coconut Authority ( PCA ) seed gardens and seed productio n ce nters, Bureau of Plant 260 
Industry ( BPI) accredited nurserie s, or commercial producers .  261 
4.3.2  Sourcing and selection of seednuts  262 
Proper sourcing and selection of quality seednuts must be done to ensure productivity 263 
of palms . 264 
Seednuts should be sourced from sel ected mother palms of National Seed Industry 265 
Council ( NSIC )-registered or PCA -recommended varieties. The list of PCA - 266 
recommended and NSIC -registered coconut varieties and the potential yield and basic 267 
traits of 10 PCA recommended coconut hybrids and cultiv ars are found in Annex B.  268 
Mother palms are selected from a block or area of highly homogenous bearing palms 269 
producing an average of at least 1,500 nuts per ha (12 nuts/ palm ) every 45 days (or at 270 
least 2.5 tons copra/ha annually). The selected mother palms  should have at least 40 271 
full-sized nuts anytime of the year under ordinary farm conditions.  272 
Seednuts must be disease -free, undamaged by insects and rodents, physiologically 273 
mature, without deep punctures or cuts, with water manifested by “sloshing sound” 274 
when shaken, ungerminated, and resembles the distinct appearance of the specific 275 
variety of the mother palm.  276 
Seednuts are seasoned in shade, preferably soaked in water with perianth lobes 277 
removed prior to sowing in appropriately prepared seedbeds of approp riate nursery 278 
site. Seednuts should be set with the germ end at the top in either upright for tall 279 
varieties o r tilted for dwarfs to ensure nut water contact with the haustorium.  280 
Sown seednuts and seedlings are appropriately watered, weeded, inspected for disease 281 
and pest incidence. Seedlings are fertilized as recommended. Recommended 282 
fertilization program  is found in Annex C. 283 
Healthy and vigorous seedlings  are selected for planting.  284 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 4.4 Farm establishm ent 285 
Farm establish ment  involves thorough land preparation, proper field layout 286 
(orientation and spacing) and holing, and planting.  287 
4.4.1  Land preparation  288 
The extent of land preparation depends upon the soil and climatic condition of the site.  289 
4.4.1.1  Situation  290 
On slopes or other places where  erosion is likely to occur, covercropping before 291 
planting time is advisable. Terraces constructed following the contour lines also 292 
minimize erosion (constructed in areas) where water is likely to stay for several days 293 
after rains. In water -logged areas, p alms generally exhibit yellowing of all leaves, 294 
stunted growth , and poor yield.  295 
4.4.1.2  Condition  296 
If the land has been cleared and is under cultivation, no special advance preparation is 297 
necessary.  298 
For idle land s, the area must be cleared first of bushes , shrubs, and grasses.  When cogon 299 
(Imperata  cylindrica  L.) covers the ground entirely, land preparation by an animal - 300 
drawn plow or by a tractor (large area) is advantageous. Appl ication of non -selective 301 
herbicide to prevent weed growth may be considered . 302 
4.4.2  Field layou t and planting  303 
Field should be laid out in either square, triangular, rectangular, quincunx , or Group of 3 304 
per Hill ( G3pH ) systems depending on the intended farm use and farmers’ preference. 305 
The planting distance depends on the intended planting and croppi ng system to be used 306 
and is recommended to be from 8.0 to 10.0 meters . The longest distance between palms 307 
should be in the east -west orientation to optimize sun exposure or avoid 308 
overshadowing of palms throughout the day. The  recommended planting systems and 309 
distance are shown in Annex D. 310 
4.4.3  Planting and replanting of damaged palms  311 
Seedlings should be appropriately planted in sufficiently wide and deep planting holes  312 
at the onset of the rainy season . Seedling collar shall not be covered with soil nor soil be 313 
allowed to get into the leaf axils.   314 
Organic matter rich soil amendment should be applied prior to planting while 315 
protection of newly planted or young palms from stray animals should be provided.   316 
Young palms that are deformed, stunted in growth, dead, and those exhibiting weakness 317 
should be replaced or replanted with seedlings of the same age.  318 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 4.5 Farm maintenance  319 
Measures  should  be taken  in order  to ensure farm efficiency , productivity , and safety.  320 
4.5.1  Soil and soil conservation  321 
Coconut can thrive in a wide range of soil textures (sand y to clay).  However, i t prefers 322 
fertile and well -drained soils with a minimum depth of 75 cm and with high water - 323 
holding capacity. The palm tolerates soil pH from 5.0 to 8. 0. For optimum growth, 324 
however, a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal.  325 
Recommended soil conservation measures such as minimum tillage, contour planting, 326 
crop rotation, covercropping, green manuring, and mulching  shou ld be integrated in the 327 
coconut  production p ractices in order to improve or maintain the soil structure and 328 
tilth, and minimize soil compaction and erosion.  329 
Use of crop suitability maps to plan  for intercropping  and livestock integration  is 330 
encouraged.  331 
4.5.2  Fertilizers and soil amendments  332 
4.5.2.1  General  requirements  333 
To optimize nutrient use and minimize nutrient losses, the farm should apply the 334 
correct amount of fertilizers based on recommendations from soil analysis or leaf 335 
analysis . Fertilizers and soil additives should be judiciously selected to mini mize the 336 
risk of contamination of coconut , particularly with the heavy metals. Only duly 337 
registered fertilizers (inorganic and bio/organic) should be  used.  List of banned  and 338 
restricted  fertilizers in the Philippines are found in Annex E. 339 
The details of the source or supplier of all fertilizers and soil additives including potting 340 
mixes (e.g. coco peat, peat moss, rice hull, compost) used in the farm shall be 341 
documented.  342 
Equipment used for the application of fertilizers and soil additives should be mainta ined 343 
in good working condition and should be checked regularl y. 344 
4.5.2.2  Organic fertilizer  345 
The use of organic fertilizers, whether produced in the farm or sourced  commercially,  is 346 
encouraged.  Composting areas for the production of farm -based organic fertilizers 347 
should be located away  from processing and storage areas  and from drinking and farm 348 
water sources.  Production procedures, such as composting, solarization, and heat 349 
drying, should be designed to reduce or eliminate pathogens in manure, biosolids , and 350 
other natural fertilizers.  On the other hand, c ommercially sourced organic fertilizers 351 
shall be obtained from registered suppliers .  352 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 Human sewage , whether processed or unprocessed , must not be used for the 353 
production of coconuts.  354 
4.5.3  Water  355 
The risk of che mical or biological contamination of produce from the water used for 356 
irrigation, fertigation, application of chemicals, washing, treatments, cleaning, 357 
sanitation , and other forms of handling the produce should be assessed. Moreover, the 358 
proximity of water sources on possible sources of contamination (e.g. dumping site, 359 
septic tanks, composting area ) should be considered to ensure suitability . 360 
Water used from sources that may cause environmental harm to the land and soil, 361 
waterways , and sensitive areas should be managed or treated to minimize the risk of 362 
health and environmental harm.  363 
Untreated sewage water should not be used for irrigation or fertigation. Whenever 364 
treated sewage water is used, water quality should comply with the WH O 1989  365 
published  Guidelines  for  the  Safe  Use  of  Wastewater  and  Excreta  in Agriculture 366 
and Aquaculture, or the country’s guidelines on the matter which is the Department of 367 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Clean Water Act, specifically on  use of 368 
waste water. Otherwise, untreated sewage water should not be used during production 369 
and postharvest handling of coconut . 370 
4.5.4  Management of coconut palms  371 
4.5.4.1  Soil tillage  372 
Soil tillage has a beneficial effect on coconut yields, provided it is neither too dee p nor 373 
too frequent. Sha llow tillage (up to 20 cm deep , 2 m  radius  away from the base of the 374 
coconut palm ) stimulates the production of new roots and incorporates organic matter 375 
into the soil. The best time to till the soil is near the end of the dry season . The soil may 376 
also be plowed before the onset of the dry season to break the soil capillaries that 377 
promote moisture loss during dry months.  378 
4.5.4.2  Crop nutrition and fertilizer application  379 
Judicious application of fertilizers should be practiced.  380 
The nutrient requirement at different stages of growth is shown in Annex A and C. In 381 
addition  to macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium , coconut needs 382 
high quantities of chlori de and sulphur . Thus, the use of fertilizer materials  containin g 383 
these nutrients  at different stages of growth  is highly recommended.  384 
In the absence of leaf  and soil  analyses of a  farm, the recommended rates in Annex C 385 
(Table C.1 – C.7) may be used. However, if the farm is intended for organic certification, 386 
only allo wed organic soil amendments shall be used.   For farms with intercrops, 387 
potassium chloride ( KCl) is highly recommended for use instead of sodium chloride 388 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 (NaCl ) as sodium ( Na) may not be suitable for other crops. Organic ferti lizers should 389 
also be applied in accordance with Section 4.5.2.2.  390 
4.5.4.3  Integrated Pest Management  (IPM)  in coconut  391 
Integrated Pest Management in coconut involves the use of a combination of different 392 
pest management strategies for the control of various insect pests, pathogens, weeds, 393 
and rodents . This consists of  cultural, biological, physical, mechanical, and chemical  394 
approaches  in order to formulate a practical, sustainable, environment -friendly and 395 
socio -economically acceptable control strategies.  396 
Cultural methods should be the primary mean of pest management  and use of chemicals 397 
should be on a need basis . IPM strategies are found in Annex F.  398 
4.5.4.3.1  Choice of crop protection products  399 
Crop protection measures should be appropriate for the control of pests and based on 400 
the approval of the competent authority.  401 
Farmer s  should  use  agricultural  chemicals  that  are  registered  for  the cultivation of 402 
coconut  and procured from licensed suppliers and approved by the  appropriate 403 
government agency . The use of such agricultural chemicals  must  be  in  accordance  404 
with  the  approved  label  instructions  for  the intended purpose/s.  405 
4.5.4.3.2  Application of crop protection products  406 
Farmers  who apply agricultural chemicals should be trained on proper application.   407 
Farmers  should  use approp riate  personal  protective  equipment (PPE)  during  408 
applicatio ns. 409 
The IPM  principles and techniques should be used whenever possible to minimize the 410 
use of pesticides. A rotation strategy for chemical application and other crop protection 411 
measures should be employed to avoid the development of pest resistance, i.e. use 412 
differen t chemical structural groups  (e.g. organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids, 413 
carbamates) of pesticides.  414 
Farmers /applicators should observe established pre-harvest intervals (PHIs) or the 415 
period between chemical application and harvest.  Ground  or aerial  appl ication  of 416 
chemi cals should  be managed  appropriately to minimize the risk of spray drift to 417 
neighboring p roperties and environmentally sensitive areas.  For public safety , areas 418 
applied wi th pesticides should be  marked with appropriate warning signs until the 419 
established re -entry period . 420 
Equipment used for chemical application should be maintained in good working 421 
condition  and checked before each use.  Agricultural chemical sprayers should be 422 
calibrated as necessary to maintain the precision of the applicati on rate.  Mixing 423 
containers, sprayers , and other equipment and tools used for chemical applications 424 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 should be thoroughly washed after use, especially when used with different agricultural 425 
chemicals on different crops, i.e. to avoid contamination of the prod uce or damaging the 426 
crop. Washings should be contained for proper disposal.  427 
4.5.4.4  Replanting of unproductive coconut palms  428 
Unproductive palms that show declining yield of less than 18 nuts per palm per year 429 
should be replaced with the recommended high yielding varieties. This could be done 430 
through  underplanting or spot planting.  Cutting of unproductive palms should be done 431 
when the underplanted palms are already at the productive stage . 432 
4.6 Farm diversification  433 
4.6.1  Intercropping  434 
Plant crops between the coconut palms  in order to utilize the spaces in between. 435 
Generally, the crops would depend on the planting distance of the coconuts. Farms with 436 
coconuts that are planted at 10 x 10 meters are good for fruits and ot her permanent 437 
crops like coffee  or cacao. Intercrops should  be shade loving or shade tolerant. In farms 438 
using hedgerow planting system , there is sufficient space for planting annual crops 439 
because enough sunlight can reach the ground. Vegetables and cereals require big 440 
amount of sunlight.  Crops to be used as interc rops should be sel ected based on site 441 
suitability, availability of market , and other value -adding activities . Recommended 442 
intercrops for coconut are found in Annex G. 443 
4.6.2  Livestock integration  444 
Livestock integration is another option to maximize land use and farm productivity . 445 
Livestock also provides manure that can be processed into organic fertilizer and helps  446 
control the weeds in the farm .  447 
4.7 Harvesting and postharvest handling  448 
Coconuts are productive throughout the year, although yields may vary with season.  449 
Normal bearing palm produces at least one matured harvestable bunch every 2 3-30 450 
days depending on the variety. Twelve (12) productive bun ches per palm can be 451 
harvested annually from tall varieties . On the other hand,  dwarfs and hybrids produce 452 
14-17 bunch es. 453 
4.7.1  Harvesting  454 
Appropriate harvesting technique should be employed in harvesting to optimize the 455 
quality and other desired characteristics of produce during harvest or postharvest 456 
phases.  457 
Visual inspection for insect pests and diseases should be done.  458 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 4.7.1.1  Sap 459 
It is recommended to select bearing palms  with healthy unopened inflorescence. Proper 460 
bending of unopened inflorescence should be done to prevent breakage and maximize 461 
sap yield . Tapping should be done b y using sharp scythe. Interval of collection of 462 
cocon ut sap is generally two to four times a day depending on the intended use. The tip 463 
of the inflorescence should be covered appropriately to prevent exposure to sun, wind, 464 
and insects.  465 
Harvesting tools  and collecting vessels  should be used solely for the purpose. These 466 
should be  made from non -toxic materials , cleaned and disinfected regularly , and stored  467 
away  from  potential contaminants.   468 
4.7.1.2  Fruit  469 
Appropria te maturity indi ces should be  the bases in determining the  harvest time. A 470 
coconut fruit  should be  harvested   in different  ages  depending on the purpose and the 471 
age is reckoned from flower opening:  nine ( 9) months  for  fresh young coconut or 472 
“buko” processing; 10 months  for “bukayo”  processing; 10 -11 months for makapuno; 473 
and 11 -12 months  for   oil and desiccated coconut processing and for seed purposes. For 474 
practical and economic reasons, the harvest intervals should be 45 -60 days for copra  475 
production  and every 30 days for virgin coconut oil and desiccated coconut processing.  476 
Fresh young cocon ut or buko should be harvested by bringing down bunches with the 477 
aid of rope to prevent breakage. It should be stored under shade.  478 
Dehusked nuts should be stored away from direct sunlight and not in direct contact 479 
with the soil , and properly secured from stray animals . 480 
4.7.2  Transport  481 
Visual inspection of the coconut  for insect pests and diseases should be done before 482 
transporting.  483 
4.7.2.1  Sap 484 
Conveyances for transporting the harvested coconut sap should be made of such 485 
material and constructi on that will permit easy and thorough cleaning. Facilities should 486 
be clean and maintained clean and when necessary disinfected so as not to constitute a 487 
source of contamination to the coconut sap. All handling procedures should prevent the 488 
coconut sap from  being contaminated. Care should be taken to prevent fermentation 489 
and to protect against contamination.  490 
4.7.2.2  Fruit  491 
Vehic les should be  checked befo re use for cleanlines s, chemical  spills,  foreign  objects , 492 
and pest  infestation. Coconut  should be transported separately from goods that are 493 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 potential sources of chemical contamination and causes of biological and physical 494 
hazards.  495 
4.7.3  Storage facilities  496 
Agricultural inputs, farm implements , and harvesting tools  should have separate storage 497 
areas. The storage  area s should be well -ventilated and designed for ease of cleaning 498 
spills and leaks . It should be free from waste and  does not provide  a breeding place for 499 
pests .  500 
Storage of agrochemicals located in an area far or separate from the living quarters of 501 
the farmers , sources of water , and where the coconut is handled.  If this is not possible, 502 
the fertilizer and the pesticides shall be physically separated and labelled accordingly.   503 
4.8 Environmental safety  504 
To prevent  possi ble ecological  imbalan ce, farmers should u se biological controls  that  505 
are authorized  for the cultivation of  coconut  and should be used in accordan ce with the 506 
approved instr uctions for  the intended purpo se/s. 507 
Farm activities comply with country regulations covering protected plant and animal 508 
species to ensure that protected species are not damaged.  509 
To conserve native plant and animal species, access and activity is managed in 510 
significant remnant native vegetation areas, wildlife corridors, and vegetation are as on 511 
and near the banks of waterways.  512 
Measures are used to control feral animals and environmental pests.  513 
The generation of offensive odor, smoke, dust, and noise is managed to minimize the 514 
impact on neighboring properties.  515 
4.9 Worker’s health, safety , and welfare  516 
4.9.1  Labor conditions  517 
Farmers  must be treated in accordance to rules and regulations set by the Department 518 
of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the agricultural sector. All farmers  should comply 519 
with the country’s regulation of the minimum working ag e which is 18 years of age and 520 
above. All farmers must be promptly and rightfully  paid for work done. There should be 521 
no discrimination in hiring of farmers .  522 
There should be no cases of forced labor , unlawful termination,  and prohibition on 523 
membership or representation by labor union. Where provided by an employer, living 524 
quarters should be suitable for human habitation and contain basic services and 525 
facilities.  526 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 4.9.2  Safety  527 
Wearing of appropriate PPE  and safe handling of inputs and farm implements should be 528 
practiced . First aid kits should be readily available to treat farmers  of minor cuts and 529 
bruises and those that have been accidentally contaminated with chemicals prior to 530 
medical attention/treatment in a hospital.  531 
4.9.3  Training  532 
Farmers  should be trained on the proper handling of crop protection products  and 533 
other inputs .  534 
Employers and farmers  must  have  appropriate  knowledge  or must  have proper 535 
training on t heir areas of responsibili ty that are relevant to good agricultural practice.  536 
4.10 Waste management  537 
Processing and utilization of agricultural  wastes and debris is highly recommended. 538 
Adequate areas for collection of agricultural  wastes should be provided. Non - 539 
biodegradable wastes such as plastics, metal containers, bottles, sacks of fertilizers, and 540 
others should be segregated from biodegradable waste materials.  541 
Proper disposal of empty pesticide and fertilizer containers  and expired chemicals  542 
should be followed in accordance to the rules and regulations set by the appropriate 543 
government agency.  544 
4.11 Documentation and records  545 
Documentation and records should be prepared and maintained to facilitate recalls and 546 
product safety investiga tions.  Information to be recorded relevant to GAP certification 547 
are found in Annex H.  548 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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15 
 Bibliography  549 
Asia -Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network. (n.d.). Invasive Pest Fact Sheet: Coconut 550 
leaf beetle.  Retrieved July 21, 2017, from http://www.fao.org/forest ry/13374 - 551 
0bba732bf9dfa85a4f0cd036b5a26f6d0.pdf . 552 
Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority. Banned and Restricted Pesticides in the Philippines.  553 
Retrieved July 17, 2017, from 554 
http://fpa.da.gov.ph/index.php/regulatory/pesticide -division.  555 
Magat, S.S. ( 2008). Good Agricultural Practices in Coconut Production . Manila: EU -Trade 556 
Related Technical Assistance.  557 
Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences. 2017. Pyramid of IPM 558 
Tactics for Pests of Crops, Lawn & Garden.  Retrieved July 21, 2017, from 559 
http: //exte nsion.psu.edu/pests/ipm/schools - 560 
childcare/schools/educators/resources/ipm -pyramid -of-tactics/pyramid -of- 561 
ipm -tactics -for-pests -of-crops -lawn -garden . 562 
Plantwise Knowledge Bank. (n.d.). Plantwise Technical Factsheet: Asiatic palm weevil.  563 
Retrieved July 21, 2017, from 564 
http://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/Datasheet.aspx?dsid=47475 . 565 
PNS/BAFS 49:XXXX. Philippine National Standard (PNS) Code of Good Agricultural 566 
Practices (GAP) for Fruits and Vegetables Farming.  Quezon City: Bureau of 567 
Agricu lture and Fisheries Standards.  568 
PNS/BAFS 167:2015. Philippine National Standard (PNS) Code of Hygienic Practice 569 
(COHP) for Coconut Sap Sugar . Quezon City: Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries 570 
Standards.  571 
Rainforest Alliance. (n.d.). Coconut Implementation Gui de for smallholders in the 572 
Philippines.   573 
South Coast Air Quality Management System (AQMD). (2014). Agricultural waste.  574 
Retrieved June 29, 2017, from 575 
http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/compliance/open -burn/agricultural - 576 
waste .  577 
Villaruel, R. and Belonias, N. (2011). Coco nut Seednut Supply Enhancement Project 578 
(CSSEP): Coconut Seed Farm Establishment.  ACDI/VOCA CoCoPal Farming 579 
Systems Project Technical Handbook No. 4.  580 
Villaruel, R., Belonias, N., and Eroy, M. (2011). CocoCheck System.  ACDI/VOCA CoCoPal  581 
Farming Systems Project Technical Handbook No. 2.  582 
Waterhouse, D.F. and Norris, K.R. (1987). Biological Control Pacific Prospects , pp 62 -71. 583 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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16 
 http://www.ois at.org/pests/insect_pests/maggot/cornmaggots/general_information.ht 584 
ml 585 
  586 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 Annex A  587 
(informative)  588 
Optimum con ditions for coconut production  589 
Factors  Description  
1. Rainfall  Total of 1,500 -2,500 mm/year, almost uniformly distributed, with 
at least 125 mm per month. Not more than 3 successive dry 
months (rainfall less than 50 mm).  
2. Relative 
humidity  Within 80 -90%. A persistently very high humidity favors the 
speed of fatal fungus diseases, common in very high elevations.  
3. Temperature  Annual mean optimum of 27°C  and monthly mean of 20°C, with 
diurnal variation of 5 -7°C.  
4. Soil  
4.1 Moisture  Field capacity moisture (within temperature range 25 -40°C of 
available moisture of 12 -15%. Water -logged conditions lasting for 
more than 1 week is growth -limiting and yield -reducing.  
4.2 Drainage  Well -drained and aerated at all times. Root respiration impaired 
and plant physiology abnormal under poor drainage conditions.  
4.3 Acidity  Soil acidity of pH 5.5 -6.5 
4.4 Depth  > 75 cm (top plus sub -soil)  
4.5 Texture  Either sandy, loamy and clayey grades  
4.6 Fertility  Soil analysis:  
Organic matter  > 2%  
Total N  1,000 – 2,000 mg/kg  
CEC  > 15 meq/100 g soil  
Exch. K  > 0.5 meq  
Exch. Ca  > 15 meq  
Exch. Mg  > 7 meq  
Exch. Na  > 0.2 meq/100 g soil  
Available P  > 15 mg/kg  
Available S  > 20 mg/kg  
Soluble Cl  > 20 mg/kg  
Available micronutrients  B: > 2 mg/kg  
Zn: > 4 mg/kg  
Cu: > 4 mg/kg  
Fe: > 50 mg/kg  
Mn: > 100 ppm  
5. Sunlight  Above 2,000 sunshine hours/year with daily full sunlight (above 
4,500 ft -candle light intensity). Provides full and stable bunchs of 
the palm crown, year round.  
6. Topography  Flat to slightly sloping, rolling to moderately sloping (below 20%)  
7. Wind speed  Strong typhoon -free. Minimal frequency of typhoon for stable nut 
yields.  PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 Annex B 590 
(informative)  591 
PCA -recommended and NSIC -registered coconut varieties and PCA -recommended 592 
coconut hybrids  593 
Table B.1 - PCA -recommended and NSIC -registered coconut varieties  594 
Tall  Dwarf  
NSIC 1996 Co 08  
Baybay Tall  NSIC 1996 Co 12  
Catigan Green Dwarf  
NSIC 1996 Co 09  
PYT or Tahiti Tall  NSIC 1996 Co 14  
Malayan Red Dwarf  
NSIC 1996 Co 10  
Laguna Tall  NSIC 1996 Co 15  
Aromatic Green Dwarf  
NSIC 1996 Co 11  
Tagnanan Tall  NSIC 2000 Co 18  
Tacunan Green Dwarf  
NSIC 1996 Co 13  
Bago -Oshiro Tall  Galas Green Dwarf  
NSIC 2000 Co 16  
West African Tall (WAT)  Kinabalan Green Dwarf  
NSIC 2000 Co 17  
Rennel Island Tall (RIT)  Magtuod Green Dwarf  
Makapuno Tall  VMAC   
San Ramon Tall   
Orgullo Tall SV San Ramon   
JAVA Tall   PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 Table B.2 - Potential yield and basic traits of 10 PCA recommended coconut hybrids and cultivars  595 
Potential yield and 
basic traits  CATxLAG  
(PCA 15 -1) MRDxTAG  
(PCA 15 -
2) MRDxBAY  
(PCA 15 -
3) CATxTAG  
(PCA 15 -4) CATxBAO  
(PCA 15 -5) CATxPYT  
(PCA 15 -6) MRDxPYT  
(PCA 15 -
7) TACxBAO  
(PCA 15 -8) TACxTAG  
(PCA 15 -9) BAY (AG2)  
(Local Tall)  
First flowering (yrs)  3-4.0 3-4.0 3-4.0 3-3.5 3-3.5 3-3.5 3-3.5 3-3.5 3-3.5 3-4.5 
First nut harvest (yrs)  4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 
Nut size  Medium  Medium  Medium  Medium  Medium  Medium  Medium  Medium to 
large  Medium to 
large  Medium to 
large  
Nut color  Brown/ 
green  Brown  Brown  Brown/ 
green  Brown/ 
green  Brown/ 
green  brown  Brown/ green  Brown/ green  Brown/ 
green  
Nuts per palm (n)  117  155  144  119  124  125  127  127  128  114  
Nuts per hectare/ year  
(n) 15,849  20,972  21,968  16,090  16,673  16,857  17,089  17,202  17,295  15,419  
Copra per nut (g)  254  272  271  277  283  254  254  310  303  322  
Copra per palm (kg)  30 42 39 33 35 32 32 39 39 37 
Copra per hectare/ year 
(t) 4 6 6 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 
Weight of whole nut (g)  1,325  1,254  1,193  1,429  1,438  1,131  1,085  1,423  1,404  1,549  
Weight of husk (g)  374  298  307  377  372  328  289  312  320  388  
Weight of shell (g)  206  202  180  225  214  179  173  239  235  250  
Weight of meat (g)  437  456  447  473  473  410  416  507  502  529  
Fruit quality value  0.43  0.48  0.48  0.40  0.50  0.50  0.50  0.48  0.48  0.45  
MCFA (C6:0 -C12:0), %  68.38  72.19  63.17  73.13  68.24  67.00  67.92  73.31  70.33  62.39  
Lauric (C12:0), %  52.20  54.51  52.04  53.66  53.68  51.92  53.04  52.57  52.30  47.24  
Oleic (C18:1), %  4.03  3.37  5.43  3.36  4.42  3.74  3.31  2.76  2.89  5.97  
Linoleic (C18:2), %  0.39  0.32  0.72  0.37  0.63  0.31  0.37  0.37  0.35  1.31  
BCR*  1.75  1.76  1.83  1.56  1.47  1.50  1.43  1.88  1.78  1.72  
IRR (%)  31 32 32 27 25 27 25 33 31 29 
* under new planting scheme (with copra and shell as products)  596 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 Annex C 597 
(informative)  598 
Recommended fertilization rates  599 
C.1 Nursery  600 
 601 
Table C.1 - Fertilization rates (21 -0-0 + 0 -0-60) of seedlings  602 
Age  
(months)  21-0-0 0-0-60 
g/seedling  kg/100 
seedling  g/seedling  kg/100 
seedling  
2 
5 20 
40 2.0 
4.0 25 
45 2.5 
4.5 
Total Nursery  60 6.0 70 7.0 
 603 
C.2 Nursery  604 
 605 
Table C.2 - Fertilization rates (21 -0-0 + NaCl) of seedlings  606 
Age  
(months)  21-0-0 Common salt 
g/seedling  kg/100 
seedling  g/seedling  kg/100 
seedling  
2 
5 20 
40 2.0 
4.0 20 
40 2.0 
4.0 
Total Nursery  60 6.0 60 6.0 
 607 
C.3 Coastal areas (palms planted within 2 km from coastline)  608 
 609 
Table C.3 - Using (NH 4)2SO 4 + KCl (21 -0-0 + 0 -0-60) 610 
Palm age 21-0-0 0-0-60 
Per palm  Per 100 
palms  Per palm  Per 100 
palms  
Field planting  150 g  15 kg  100 g  10 kg  
6 months  200 g  20 kg  150 g  15 kg  
1 year  500 g  50 kg  500 g  50 kg  
2 years  750 g  75 kg  750 g  75 kg  
3 years  1.00 kg 100 kg  1.00 kg  100 kg  
4 years  1.25 kg  125 kg  1.25 kg  125 kg  
5 years or more  1.50 kg  150 kg  1.50 kg  150 kg  
 611 
Table C.4 - Using (NH 4)2SO 4 + NaCl (21 -0-0 + common salt) for soils with adequate K  612 
Palm  age 21-0-0 Common salt 
Per palm  Per 100 
palms  Per palm  Per 100 
palms  
Field planting  150 g  15 kg  80 g  8 kg  
6 months  200 g  20 kg  120 g  12 kg  PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 1 year  500 g  50 kg  400 g  40 kg  
2 years  750 g  75 kg  600 g  60 kg  
3 years  1.00 kg  100 kg  800 kg  80 kg  
4 years  1.25 kg  125 kg  1.00 kg  100 kg  
5 years or more  1.50  kg 150 kg  1.20 kg  120 kg  
 613 
C.4 For inland areas (palms planted more than 2 km from coastline)  614 
 615 
Table C.5 - Using (NH 4)2SO 4 + KCl (21 -0-0 + 0 -0-60) 616 
Palm age 21-0-0 0-0-60 
Per palm  Per 100 
palms  Per palm  Per 100 
palms  
Field planting  150 g  15 kg  200 g  20 kg 
6 months  200 g  20 kg  250 g  25 kg  
1 year  500 g  50 kg  600 g  60 kg  
2 years  750 g  75 kg  900 g  90 kg  
3 years  1.00 kg  100 kg  1.50 kg  150 kg  
4 years  1.25 kg  125 kg  1.70 kg  170 kg  
5 years or more  1.50 kg  150 kg  2.00 kg  200 kg  
 617 
Table C.6 - Using (NH 4)2SO 4 + NaCl (21 -0-0 + common salt) for soils with adequate K  618 
Palm age 21-0-0 Common salt  
Per palm  Per 100 
palms  Per palm  Per 100 
palms  
Field planting  150 g  15 kg  160 g  16 kg  
6 months  200 g  20 kg  200 g  20 kg  
1 year  500 g  50 kg  480 g  48 kg  
2 years  750 g  75 kg  720 g  72 kg  
3 years  1.00 kg  100 kg  1.25 kg  125 kg  
4 years  1.25 kg  125 kg  1.35 kg  135 kg  
5 years or more  1.50 kg  150 kg  1.70 kg  170 kg  
 619 
Table C.7 - Fertilizer nutrient recommendations for coconut (a guide)  620 
Age  Nutrient rate per palm  
N P2O5 K2O MgO  S Cl Borax  
Field 
planting  30 g  30 g  90 g  50 g  18 g  66 g  0 
6 months  40 g  50 g  0.15 kg 85 g  25 g  0.11 kg  7.5 g 
1 year  0.10 kg  0.10 kg  0.35 kg  125 g  60 g  0.26 kg  15 g 
2 years  0.15 kg  0.15 kg  0.55 kg  0.25 kg  90 g  0.40 kg  15 g  
3 years  0.20 kg  0.16 kg  0.77 kg  0.35 kg  0.12 kg  0.53 kg  15 g  
4 years  0.30 kg  0.20 kg  1.00 kg  0.40 kg  0.18 kg  0.70 kg  15 g  
5 years or 
older  0.40 kg  0.30 kg  1.20 kg  0.50 kg  0.24 kg  0.90 kg  15 g  
621 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 Annex D 622 
(informative)  623 
Recommended planting systems and distance  624 
Table D.1 – Square and triangular systems and their planting densities  625 
Method  Population density (palms/unit area)  
1 ha  2 ha  3 ha  4 ha  5 ha  
Square  
8 m x 8 m  156  312  468  625  781  
8.5 m x 8.5 m  138  277  415  553  692  
9 m x 9 m  134  247  370  494  617  
10 m x 10 m  100  200  300  400  500  
Triangular  
8 m x 8 m  180  361  542  727  903  
8.5 m x 8.5 m  160  319  479  639  799  
9 m x 9 m  143  284  427  570  712  
10 m x 10 m  115  230  346  462  577  
 626 
Table D.2 – Rectangular system planting density  627 
Distance between rows  Planting density ( palms/ha ) 
8.5 m  117  
9.0 m  111  
9.5 m  105  
NOTE 1 not recommended for monoculture  
 628 
Figure D.1 – G3pH planting system   629 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 Annex E 630 
(normative)  631 
Banned and restricted pesticides in the Philippines  632 
E.1  Banned pesticides in the Philippines  633 
 634 
1. 2, 4, 5 -T 635  
2. Aldrin  636  
3. Azinphos Ethyl  637  
4. Chlordane  638  
5. Chlorodimeform  639  
6. Copper Aceto -Arsenic (Paris 640  
Green)  641  
7. DBCP  642  
8. DDT  643  
9. Dieldrin  644  
10. EDB  645  
11. Elemental Phosphorus (White & 646  
Yello)  647  
12. Endrin  648  
13. EPN  649  14. Gophacide  650  
15. HCH.BHC  651  
16. Heptachior  652  
17. Leptophos  653  
18. Mercuric Fungicides  654  
19. Parathion -Methyl  655  
20. Parathion -Ethyl  656  
21. 1-Naphthylthiourea (ANTU)  657  
22. Nitrofen  658  
23. Organotin  659  
24. Sodium Fluoroacetate  660  
25. Sodium Fluoroacetate (1801)  661  
26. Strychnine  662  
27. Thalium Sulfate  663  
28. Toxapehene  664  
 665 
E.2 Restricted pesticides in the Philippines  666 
 667 
DDT  All users cancelled except for malaria control purposes by 
the Department of Health.  
Paraquat  Restricted for Institutional Use only. Approval of use will be 
based on strict compliance by the imported / end -user of 
the requirements act for its use.  
Phenamiphos  
Entropop  
Methidation  For use in Banana Plantations Only.  
Inorganic Arsenicals  
(Arsenic Trioxide)  For use by FPA Accredited wood treatment and wood 
preserving plants only.  
Lindane (Gamma / BHC)  The only allowed use to date is on pineapple plantations by 
soil pre -plant application.  
Penthachlorophenol  For use in wood treatment only by FPA Accredited wood 
treatment plants and institutions.  
Endosulfan  Not for use in paddy rice culture. Concentration be lowered 
to 5% EC or lower for other uses.  
Monocrotophos  Allowed use is for beanfly control only.  
Methyl Bromide  
Carbon Disulfide  
Phosphine Generating 
Compoounds  Adequate time for acration is required after treatment 
before commoxlities are processed into food or feed.  PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
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 HCN Generating 
Materials  
Carbon Tetrachlorid e 
Chloroform  
Ethylformate  
Aldicarb  Importation Not Allowed Except in Cases of Emergency as 
determined by the Authority  
 668 
E.3 Status of POPs in the Philippines  669 
 670 
Pesticides  671 
Aldrin  Banned  
Chlordane  Banned  
DDT  Restricted  
All Uses cancelled except for malarial control purpose of the 
Department of Health  
Dieldrin  Banned  
Endrin  Banned  
Heptachlor  Banned (Never Registered)  
Hexachlorobenzene  Banned (Never Registered)  
Mirex  Banned (Never Registered)  
Toxaphene  Banned (Never Registered)  
  672 
Chemicals  673 
Dioxins  Not Regulated by the Authority  
Furans  Not Regulated by the Authority  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)  Not Regulated by the Authority  
Hexabromobiphenyls  Not Regulated by the Authority  
Polyromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)  Not Regulated by the Authority  
  674 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
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 Annex F 675 
(informative)  676 
Integrated Pest Management strategies  677 
 678 
 679 
Figure F.1 – Pyramid of IPM tactics  680 
 681 
F.1  Integrated insect pest management  of coconut  682 
1. Coconut leaf b eetle  
Scientific name  Brontispa longissima  
Synonyms  Coconut Leaf Hispine, Palm Leaf Beetle  
Common name  Coconut Leaf Beetle  
Family  Chrysomelidae  
Order  Coleoptera  
Damage characteristics  1.   Yellowing of the coconut leaves  
2.   Wilting of developing buds  
3.   Curling of the leaflets  
Host ranges  Coconut, Royal Palm, Chinese Fan Palm, Areca Nut Palm  
Management/control   
 Mechanical 
control  Blockading and cutting of coconut palms up to three 
kilometers  from the infestation spot are done to prevent the 
beetle from spreading.  
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
26 
  Biological 
control  Two parasitoid of coconut leaf beetle Tetrastichus 
brontispae and Asecodes hispinarum have been successfully 
used in the control of beetle.  
2. Asiatic palm weevil  
Scientific name  Rhynchoporus ferrugineus  
Synonyms  Indian Palm Weevil, Coconut Weevil  
Common name  Asiatic Palm Weevil  
Family  Scarabaeidae  
Order  Coleoptera  
Damage characteristics  1. Wilting of leaves  
2. Hollowed stems due to internal feeding  
3. Presence of holes in the stems  
Host ranges  Coconut, Sugar Palm, Sago Palm, African Oil Palm  
Management/control   
 Cultural  control  Practice proper sanitation; avoid wounding palms; destroy 
infested palms  
3. Coconut scale insect  
Scientific name  Aspidiotus destructor or Aspidiotus rigidus  
Common name  Coconut Scale Insect  
Local name  Cocolisap  
Family  Coccoidae  
Order  Hemiptera  
Damage characteristics  1. Scales with yellow spots  
2. Entire leaves turning yellow to brown and fall  
3. The leaves tend to dry -out in extreme cases  
Host ranges  Coconut; Breadfruit, mango, cocao, papa ya, cotton, oil palm, 
rubber, sugarcane, and tea  
Management/control   
 Cultural  control  Coconut scale insect can be eradicated from new areas by 
destroying infested plants and plant parts.  
 Biological 
control  The most common predators of the coconut scale insect 
include Coccinelid beetle, Chilocorus  spp, Cryptognatha  
nodiceps , Pseudocymnus  anomalus , and Telsimia  neIida. 
parasitoid of CSI.  
4. Slug caterpillars  
Scientific name  Delia platura; Thosea spp, Microthosea spp.,  Setora spp., 
Darna spp.  
Common name  Slug Caterpillars  
Family  Limacodidae  
Order  Lepidoptera  
Damage characteristics  Larvae feed at night on mature, firm leaves, initially 
scarifying surface and later making holes; can defoliate 
plants at high population densities (outbreaks)  
Host ranges  Corn,  Broccoli; Cauliflower; Radish; fruit trees; coconut  
Management/control   PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
27 
 Cultural control  Make row covers, speed -up germination, avoid green 
manure  
Biological control  Predacious soil beetles, a predatory pentatomid, 
Eocanthecona furcellata  (Wolff) and Reduviid bug , Sycanus  
sp. 
Chemical control  Chlorpyrifos, Bifenthrin  
 683 
F.2  Integrated disease management of coconut   684 
Technology  Brief description  
1. Bud and fruit rots ( phytophtora palmivora Butl.)  
a) Colored coconut 
varieties are more 
susceptible to bud 
and fruit rots   The apparent susceptibility of colored coconut 
populations (reference to the immature nuts), the yellow 
(MYD) and red (MRD ) as parent materials of coconut 
hybrids. A n ationwide survey showed that MAWA 
(Malayan Yellow Dwarf x West African tall) hybrid found 
highly susceptible to the disease while the local green 
dwarfs and tall varieties showed high levels of tolerance 
to the disease. Moreover, artificial inoculation (in -vitro) 
in the laboratory showed that colored (yellow, red or 
brown) populations are generally highly susceptible to 
Phytophthora infections than the green populations.  
b) Fungal species as 
biocontrol agents 
again st Phytophthora  
under laboratory 
condition   In-vitro  bioassay  tests showed that Trichoderma  sp. and 
Chaetomium sp. were found as potential biocontrol 
organisms/agents against the disease.  
c) Farm sanitation as 
preventive control of 
the Phytophthora   Farm sanit ation, cutting and burning of infected 
palms/nuts and other alternate infected hosts (e.g. 
affected with durian stem canker and cacao pod rot) to 
prevent further spread of the disease.  
d) Chemical application 
to control 
Phytophthora  in 
young plantings   Applic ation of cupric hydroxide at 25/g/l/palm every 6 
mo. significantly lowered disease incidence. Treatment 
application is done through canopy spray and solution 
directed to axils of leaves and fruits.  
2. Leaf spot [ Pestalozzia palmarum (Cooke) Steyart and Helmi nthosporium  sp.]  
a) Resistant coconut 
variety to fungus leaf 
spots   Catigan Dwarf coconut variety has high tolerance to leaf 
spot disease in the nursery. Other varieties such as 
Tacunan  dwarf, Yellow dwarf and Red/Orange dwarf 
population are more susceptible to fungus leaf spot 
infection.  
b) Clean culture to 
prevent leaf spot 
incidence in the 
nursery   Practice of cultural management through clean culture, 
removal of pruning of infected leav es prevents leaf spot 
occurrence in the nursery.  PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
28 
 Technology  Brief description  
c) Potassium chloride 
(KCl) fertilizer 
included resistance 
of palms to leaf spot   Application of potassium chloride (KCl) fertilizer on 
mature coconut farms induced resistance to coconut leaf 
spots. Common salt  (NaCl), a cheaper and effective source 
of Cl nutrient and a.i., has been recommended, especially 
in coconuts grown in K -rich soils.  
3. Socorro wilt  
Integrated disease 
management strategies 
against the Socorro wilt   Cutting and burning of infected palms at the earliest sign 
of infection minimize the spread of the disease as it had 
been observed to spread up to 12 km radius from 
coconut farm where it was first identified to occur 
(Socorro, Oriental Mindoro). Strict qua rantine regulations 
by restricting outward movement of coconut products 
and by products from areas of disease occurrence 
contained the disease.  
4. Stem bleeding [ Thielaviopsis paradoxa (de Seynes) Von Hohnel]  
Integrated control of 
stem bleeding   Scrap out ti ssues affected with stem bleeding and apply 
fungicide paste and chemical repellent to prevent 
secondary infestation by other pest. Use of Cl -based 
fertilizers reduce it.  
 Avoid unnecessarily wounds on trunk  
 Alliete and Benlate were found to inhibit growth o f T. 
paradoxa in vitro.  
5. Cadang -cadang   
a) Control directions of 
the disease spread   A feasible step in managing viroid diseases in planting 
certified disease -free -materials and removing sources of 
inoculum in the field. The advent of modern molecular 
technologies proved that recognition of the disease at the 
earliest possible stage by reliable means is the key factor 
in the success of the above strategy.  Very low yield 
(productivity) per tree or per hectare can be very when 
multiplied over the vast coc onut areas and the oil palm 
plantations that could be possibly afflicted by the disease 
coming from a symptomless or latent source.  
 685 
F.3  Integrated weed  management of coconut  686 
Technology  Brief description  
1.  Cogon [Imperata 
cylindrica  (L.) Beau]  
 
a) Replacement of cogon 
vegetation under coconut 
with leguminous  
covercrop   
 
 Establishment of leguminous covercrops after 
glyphosate application is a practical and effective 
way of suppressing the cogon weed infesting 
coconut plantation    Advantages from cov ercropping 
are: 1) elimination of tough crop -weed competition; PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
29 
 and 2) substantial reduction in weeding operations, 
hence less expensive and crop yield improvemen t in 
the long run. Improvement of soil fertility and 
erosion control are also benefits derived from the 
practice  
b)   Adaptability o f winged 
bean ( Psophocarpus 
tetragonolobus L.) as 
profitable covercrop under 
coconul   Demonstrated the adaptability of winged bean as a 
profitable weed suppressant complementing as a 
covercrop in coconut farms.    lt can improve soil 
fertility in addition to producing edible pods and 
seeds as a protein source.  
2. Purple Nutsedge 
(Cyperus rotundus L.) 
 
a)   An effective herbicide 
combination Io control 
Cyperus rotundus L. in 
coconut nursery 
establishment   
 
  Control of Cyperus rotundus L. in coconut nursery 
by using glyphosate  followed by paraquat.  This 
method was found to be more practical and 
economical than manual weeding alone especially in 
large scale polybag coconut nurseries. Use of these 
herbicides ensured faste r weed control, thereby 
allowing time for labor -intensive nursery activities"  
3.  Hagonoy  [Chromolaena 
odorata (L.) R.M. King & 
M. Robinson]  
 
a)  Voracious foliage 
feeder, Pareuchaetes 
pseudoinsulata  on  
'Hag onoy'  
 
 
 An arctiid moth, Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata , as a 
biological control agent  is a voracious foliage feeder. 
Total detoliation was at tained after continuous 
exposure to the arcti id larvae.  
b)  A gall fly 
Procecidochares 
connexa , as biocon 
agen t of  'Hagono y'  Successful[y developed mass rearing of the 
impor ted gall fly, a spePcilic galling fly against C. 
odororata .   A total dieback of the C. odorata  was 
attained in 6 mos. due to gall pressure. The f ly had 
been observed to be defi nitely host specific  to C. 
odorata . 
   687 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
30 
 Annex G 688 
(informativ e) 689 
Recommended intercrops for coconut  690 
Vegetables/Legumes  691  
 Pole Sitao (sitaw)  692  
 Cabbage (repolyo)  693  
 Mungbean (mungo)  694  
 Okra (okra)  695  
 Burst Sitao (sitaw baba)  696  
 Cowpea (paayap)  697  
 Onion (sibuyas)  698  
 Peanut (mani)  699  
 Musk Melon (melon)  700  
 Tomato (kamatis)  701  
 Squash (kalabasa)  702  
 Eggplant (talong)  703  
 Bitter gourd 704  
(ampalaya.amargoso)  705  
 706  
Spice Crops  707  
 Hot Chili (sili -labuyo)  708  
 Sweet Pepper (sili)  709  
 Black Pepper (palay tigang)  710  
 711  
Cereals  712  
 Corn (mais)  713  
 Upland Rice (palay tigang)  714  
 715  
716  Root Crops  717  
 Sweet Potato (kamote)  718  
 Gabi (gabi)  719  
 Cassava  (kamoteng kahoy)  720  
 Ubi (ubi)  721  
 Arrowroot (arorot)  722  
 Ginger (luya)  723  
 724  
Fruitcrop/Fruit Trees  725  
 Banana (saging saba)  726  
 Durian (duriyan)  727  
 Lanzones (lansones)  728  
 Pineapple (pinya)  729  
 Rambutan (rambutan)  730  
 Citrus (Mandarin, Pomelo, 731  
Calamansi)  732  
 733  
Beverage Crops  734  
 Coffee  735  
 Cacao  736  
  737 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
31 
 Annex H 738 
(normative)  739 
Information to be recorded relevant to GAP certification  740 
Section  Records  
Site selection  and 
management  New sites  
- cropping history  
- potential hazards during assessment and 
remedial action, if any  
Existing  sites  
- cropping history  
Multiple production areas  
- name or code of each production area  
Planting material (for new 
sites and replanting)  From accredited nurseries  
- name and specifics of cultivar  
- name of supplier  
- date of procurement  
From with -in farm or non -accredited sources  
- chemical used for treatment, if applicable  
- purpose of the treatment  
- varietal classification (tall, dwarf, hybrid)  
Fertilizer and soil additives  Type of fertilizer used (organic or inorganic)  
Name of fertilizer  
Source  
- brand name  
- supplier  
- lot number  
Date  
Quantity  
Expiration date (for liquid fertilizer)  
Fertilizer grade  
Application  
- date  
- location of area fertilized  
- number of fertilized farms  
- application rate (per palm)  
- application method  
- name of applicator  
Water quality  Water source  
Test results or certification from LGU  
Corrective actions, if there is a presence of 
contamination  
Treatment method used and monitoring results, if 
water treatment is done  PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
32 
 Irrigation use, if applicable  
- schedule and frequency of irrigation  
- location in the farm that is irrigated  
- volume of water applied/duration of irrigation  
- name of personnel who managed the irrigation 
activity  
Crop protection  Type of pesticide used (biopesticide, chemical pesticide 
– synthetic or organic)  
Target organism  
Source  
- name of pesticide  
o common name  
o brand name  
- lot number  
Date of purchase  
Quantity purchased  
Expiration date  
Active ingredient  
Pre-Harvest Interval  
Application  
- date and frequency of application  
- location of area applied  
- number of treated palms  
- application rate (per palm)  
- application method  
- name of applicator  
For biocontrol agents  
- date of frequency of release  
- name of biocontrol agent  
- target organism  
- brand of biocontrol agent  
- quantity released  
- area treated  
For stored chemicals  
- chemical name  
- date and quantity obtained  
- expiry date and date when completely used or 
disposed of  
Maintenance and calibration activities for agricultural 
chemical sprayers  
Harvest  Date of harvest  
Volume of harvest  
Worker’s health, safety, and 
welfare  Proof of training  
Medical certificate  
Record of salary and wages received by farmers  
Waste management  Types of waste products generated  PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
33 
 practices to minimize waste generation  
Procedures for  reuse and recycling of waste  
storage and disposal  of waste  
  741 PHILIPPINE NATIONAL STANDARD  PNS/BAFS XXX:2017  
CODE OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR COCONUT  
Working draft  
For WTO notification  
34 
 Annex I 742 
(informative)  743 
Guide to selection and safe handling of crop protection products  744 
Mixing of crop protection products  745 
The mixing area should be located and chosen in such a way that the risk of 746 
contaminating the farmers  and the environment are minimized.  747 
Mixing of agricultural chemicals should be carried out in a manner that will prevent 748 
ground and surface water contamination and the land in the surrounding areas.  749 
The filling  and  mixing  areas  for  the  crop  protecti on  product  should  be equipped 750 
with appropriate tools for precise measurements and calibrations. The functionality of 751 
such should be checked before every cropping season by the farmer/applicator.   The 752 
filling and mixing areas should have floor brush, du stpan, plastic bags and adsorbent 753 
materials such as sand.   These materials should be placed in a fixed location within the 754 
specific area, to be used in case of spillage of crop protection product.  755 
Emergency facilities in the event of accidental spill duri ng mixing should be readily 756 
available.  757 
Prepare only the necessary volume of spray solution to avoid surplus application mix.  758 
Surplus application mixes are disposed of in a manner that does not present a risk of 759 
contaminating the produce.  760