THE highly anticipated Davao de Oro Provincial Coconut Industry Summit will finally happen on August 22 at the Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School.
This event, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Davao de Oro in partnership with the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro, promises to bring together around 100 key stakeholders, experts, and enthusiasts from across the coconut industry for a day of insightful discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaborative planning.
The summit aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogues that will shape the provincial coconut industry’s future.
With the theme "Empowering Coconut Farmers and Communities Towards A Sustainable Coconut Industry in Davao de Oro," the summit is set to explore innovative strategies, best practices, and emerging technologies to enhance the productivity, sustainability, and profitability of the coconut sector, specifically in the province.
The event will highlight several components, such as the plenary session with panel discussions, product exhibit, and profiling and registration of coconut farmers.
The plenary session will gather coconut farmers, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the coconut industry, and all other interested stakeholders to listen to the presentations of esteemed resource speakers and industry players. Different government agencies involved in the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) implementation will also share relevant updates as well as new opportunities available to coconut stakeholders. A panel discussion will also take place wherein experts and practitioners will delve into critical issues facing the coconut industry and explore collaborative solutions.
The summit’s product exhibit, on the other hand, is expected to be a vibrant showcase of various food and non-food products from coconut, produced by processors and artisans from all over the province. It will feature the advancements and innovations that continuously drive the industry forward.
In the meantime, coconut farmers will be profiled upon registration. The summit seeks to register these farmers under the Coconut Farmers Registration System (CFRS) and the Coconut Farmers Association of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
"This summit underscores our commitment to harnessing the full potential of the coconut industry in Davao de Oro," said Atty. Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque, provincial director of DTI-Davao de Oro. "Through collective knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships, we aim to propel the industry to new heights, driving economic growth and sustainable development in our province."
As of the 2021 coconut statistics provided by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the province has 35,712 coconut farmers developing 67,174.06 hectares of farms. They produced an average of 249,844 metric tons of coconut in 2022. Meanwhile, the coconut processors of the province are taking advantage of the current market for virgin coconut oil (VCO), coco sugar, and copra.
More than one thousand coconut farmers have already confirmed to attend the Davao de Oro Provincial Coconut Industry Summit. DTI