ONE of the highlights of the upcoming 20th Davao Agri Trade Expo (Date) is the Agri-Business Innovation Conference, which will tackle new ideas and innovations in the agricultural businesses in Mindanao.
“This particular conference is a one day conference on September 21, focusing on innovations such as new ways in agri-technology,” John Carlo Tria, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. vice president and Date 2018 chairman, said during the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw press conference.
The conference will discuss various advancements and ideas that can be beneficial for the agriculture sector of Davao Region.
Meanwhile, Tria said Date 2018 will also tackle agricultural reform and exploration of new markets for exporting their agricultural products aside from the integration of technology into the agricultural sector.
“As you know, our top agri-export is bananas but there are other commodities that are now obtaining new demand from new countries,” he added.
Tria said the annual agricultural expo will also highlight new modes of financing for agricultural ventures. At present, the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines are among the few financial institutions supporting agribusinesses.
This year’s Date, which is slated on September 21 to 22 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City, will focus again on the Golden Crops -- cacao, coffee, coconut, cassava, corn and rice. The crops are common among upland farmers in the region.
“By strengthening to plan, produce, distribute and sell these commodities (Golden Crops) inclusive growth can happen,” Tria said. Floyd Jhon S. Caballero and Angelo E. Belen, AdDU interns