• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said there is a need to help coconut farmers and entrepreneurs market their products, and the first Negros Island Region Coconut Trade Fair that opened Oct. 12 is one such opportunity.
“A stronger coconut industry can contribute to a robust agricultural economy…that is why the province welcomes and supports initiatives, like this trade fair, that helps farmers and MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) find markets for their products and encourage greater enterprise in agriculture,” Lacson said at the opening of the trade fair at SM Bacolod North Block.
Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry, the trade fair is participated in by 36 exhibitors from across the NIR, and is open to the public until Oct. 18.
Lacson said Negros Occidental has about 53,000 hectares devoted to coconut production, as he stressed the industry’s importance to the province’s agricultural sector and in generating livelihoods and additional incomes for farming communities.
“Now, as part of the NIR, we have an opportunity to work closely with Negros Oriental and Siquijor, along with government agencies, farmers, producers, and the private sector in developing our agricultural industries,” he added.
Philippine Coconut Authority-Negros Island Region (PCA-NIR) manager Aurora Paquibot, meanwhile, assured that the agency is committed to strengthening the entire coconut value chain, from production at the farm level, to processing, product development, marketing, and export.
“We believe that a thriving coconut industry must be anchored on productive farms, empowered coconut farmers, and a sustainable supply of raw materials. We also recognize the importance of ensuring a sustainable and sufficient supply of raw materials to support the growing requirements of our coconut processors, manufacturers, exporters, and other industry stakeholders,” she added.
Paquibot said the PCA is embarking on a massive coconut planting and re-planting program, “complemented by an intensified coconut fertilization program aimed at increasing coconut production, improving farm productivity, rehabilitating our aging and unproductive coconut farms, and securing a reliable and sustainable supply of coconuts for the years ahead.”
She said that in NIR, the PCA targets to distribute and plant 780,000 coconut seedlings through various modalities, and is allocating 30,000 bags of fertilizer for the entire region.
“Through these programs, together with our continued support from coconut farmers, cooperatives, and MSMEs, we envision a more resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive coconut industry,” Paquibot stressed, adding she hopes that the trade fair will lead to stronger partnerships, expand market opportunities, and a greater appreciation of the vital contribution of the coconut industry to regional and national economies.
DTI-NIR acting regional director Esperanza Melgar said the coconut industry offers tremendous opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs. “Beyond the raw coconut products, there is significant potential in value adding, product development, improved packaging and branding, technology adoption, and the exploration of new markets.”
She urged the exhibitors to make the most of the trade fair. “Let your products tell the story of your hard work, creativity, and commitment to quality. Engage with potential buyers, learn from fellow entrepreneurs, and explore partnerships that can help bring your businesses to the next level.”
DTI Negros Occidental provincial director Lynna Joy Cardinal earlier said the trade fair is “a celebration of the creativity, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit of our cocopreneurs, coconut farmers, and coconut-based enterprises, on the theme “Nurturing Resilience and Innovation”.
It shines a spotlight on the hardworking coconut farmers, who cultivate the foundation of the industry; the passionate cocopreneurs, who transform ideas into innovative products; and the thriving coconut-based enterprises that turn the many potentials of coconut into quality products and promising business opportunities, Cardinal added. | CGC
