ORGANIZERS of the Kakao Konek 2015 or the National Cacao Congress, which is slated on September 11 to 12, intend to come up with a common agenda and roadmap among cacao players and cacao-concerned agencies after the congress.
Valente Turtur, chairman of the Cacao Industry Council and executive director of the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. (Cidami) in a press conference during the Fast Fridays at the SM Lanang Premiere, said that drafting a common agenda and harmonizing the standards for export-quality products is essential for a sustainable cacao production.
“Cacao is an emerging crop in the country, there is a need for all the cacao players and cacao-concerned agencies to sit down and discuss on ways of boosting the industry so we will have a common vision for cacao’s sustainable production,” he said adding that the move will be led by the council’s National Technical Working Group.
He said that the present situation of the industry is that players have different ways and agenda towards cacao production thus losing some of the important traders and export market in the industry. At present, Davao region has a total of 23,000 hectares (has), 6,000 has of which is from Davao City with some 16,000 farmers.
“One of the major highlights of this year’s congress is that we will be forming Philippine Cacao Board, an institutionalized government agency to oversee the growing cacao industry in the country,” Turtur added.
The board will be composed of the cacao industry players and officials from different government agencies like Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Philippine Coconut Authority, among others.
Other issues to be discussed during the congress are the cacao’s potential planting materials and encouraging the cacao farmers to push on fermented cacao beans.
The Cacao Double-Up Program of the Mindanao Development Authority, Cacao branding and the business matching of multinational cacao export companies will also take centerstage during the congress.
The congress for this year carries the theme: “Enhancing Productivity: Key to Sustainable Cacao Industry”. The organizers are expecting around 500 to 700 visitors.
It will also be participated by traders coming from Japan, Europe, US, among others.