BY CHRIS ALEX

While national figures show bolstered growth in coconut and cocoa exports in 2025, farmers on Ugi Island call for urgent attention to long-neglected infrastructure that continues to choke rural economic potential.

According to a recent report by the Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA), coconut and cocoa exports recorded significant gains in the first quarter of 2025 growth largely driven by rural producers.

However, on the ground, frustration grows among farmers who say they’re being “forgotten” despite being the backbone of the industry.

“This year’s export numbers look great on paper.

“But if you come to Ugi, you’ll see the roads are still the same as they were a decade ago. Muddy, broken, and nearly impassable. Our copra gets delayed or damaged. Sometimes, we can’t even get it out,” says local copra buyer and community advocate Jerry Wala.

Speaking on behalf of hundreds of smallholder farmers in Ugi Island, he says repeated promises by local leaders and the area’s Member of Parliament have fallen flat.

“For 10 years, they’ve said they’ll fix the roads. Nothing has changed. We are proud to contribute to the country’s export success, but we’ve been abandoned,” he said.

The lack of accessible roads has not only hindered transportation of goods but also stifled access to health services, education, and market opportunities.

Wala calls for direct donor intervention in the region’s infrastructure, fearing the island’s economic contributions may wither without urgent support.

“If we don’t fix the roads soon.

“We risk not only hurting farmers but slowing down the very export engine the country is now celebrating,” he said.

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