THE upcoming 2nd International Coconut Conference and Trade Expo on November 7 to 9 in Davao City is a much-awaited event in the life of coconut farmers and growers not only locally but for the whole country.
Dubbed as COCOLINK, this annual coming together of coconut stakeholders will not only highlight the fast recovery of the coconut industry after a snag, but will also bring into focus the industry’s direction and opportunities.
One of Cocolink’s many active sponsors in making this convergence a possibility is the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), a non-government organization that has since supported small farmers’ efforts to pursue social enterprises in the different regions. PEF believes that Agriculture is “not growing fast enough and not creating work for the rural poor.”
Believing that something can still be done to “transform the most number of households from poverty to sustainability,” PEF has been into “social enterprises and economic development” in agriculture, by providing financial support for small-scale entrepreneurs.
“It has been proven from first hand experiences that SEs can help rural households fight poverty. But we need to create an environment that is conducive to promote the growth of SEs and to sustain this growth," Roberto Calingo, PEF Executive Director have been quoted as saying.
The Peace and Equity Foundation aspires to drive positive change in poor Filipino household communities by investing in social enterprises that will provide them with viable livelihood and better access to basic services. Working with partners all over the country who share this vision by developing models and best practices that steers social enterprises to scale up, the PEF, has since 2001 been reaching communities nationwide to pursue its vision of “sustaining households providing for their basic needs – food, water, shelter, health, and education – and contributing to the socio-cultural growth, economic development and effective governance of their sustainable communities.”
Among the possibilities expected at COCOLINK include the opportunity to connect to new potential partners among the stakeholders both in the national and international scene and expand in the industry.
Participants are not only expected to be exposed to optimizing business prospects and networking but also gain new technical knowledge and latest technologies in the development of their coconut products.
“We are preparing for this big event and would be glad to assist those who would like to participate in this opportunity for coconut farmers,” says Mr. Dondon Clamor from Davao Region Coconut Industry Cluster, Inc. (DRCICI), a non-government organization that provides integrated services for the Philippine Coconut Industry since 20099. DRCICI is also the main organizer of this annual international coconut conference and exhibition in the city.
It also acts as business enabler and brand manager of all coconut enterprises with special focus on value-added services that centers on organizing well-managed model farms, linking farmers to markets, providing access to finance and contribute to training and advocacy.
Moreover, interested individuals and entrepreneurs who would like to get a link to the COCOLINK activities could visit www.cocolinkph.org for more details. (PR)