PREPARATIONS are now in full steam for the 1st Mindanao Coconut Summit on June 25-26, 2009 at the Honey’s Hotel and Restaurant in Mati, Davao Oriental.

Mindanao Business Council Trustee and Conference Director Louie Rabat has recently disclosed that a total of 300 participants are expected to grace the maiden staging of what is to be an annual gathering of Mindanao coconut farmers, buyers, processors, financing institutions, and allied services supporting the industry.

“This is going to be a very significant gathering of all the coconut industry stakeholders of Mindanao. For the longest time, the coconut has been one of the country’s top export winner, and Mindanao is a major contributor of this distinction. It’s about time we gather them together to discuss industry problems and opportunities,” Rabat said.

The summit shall also culminate with the formation of a Mindanao Confederation of Coconut Stakeholders.

The summit will also be featuring topics related to coconut processing technologies such as coconut-based food production, charcoal production using brick kiln technology, cocopeat-based bio-organic fertilizer production, and the prospects of using coconut as biodiesel fuel. Farm productivity enhancement will also be discussed through intercropping coconuts with abaca and Cavendish banana, as well as raising small ruminants.

The summit is organized by the Mindanao Business Council and the Davao Region Coconut Industry Cluster, in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology. The Province of Davao Oriental and the Local Government of Mati are jointly hosting the event.

For more details, interested participants may contact the Mindanao Business Council at (082) 225-0763 or (082) 224-2581 or e-mail at info@minbc.org. (PR)