DA eyes new market for coco sugar, poultry, and meat

The Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA) will aggressively promote export of coconut sap sugar, popularly called ‘coco sugar,’and corner a big share of a billion-dollar alternative sweetener market.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala also added that they are eyeing new and emerging markets as possible destinations for the export market.
“In tandem with the private sector, we are crafting a master plan to promote coconut sap sugar overseas and win a big share of the $1.1-billion global alternative sweetener market,” said Secretary Alcala.
Further, he said the DA — in tandem with Philfoodex and other agri-fishery food producers, processors and exporters — will tap new and emerging exports markets, and strengthen existing ones.
He said the country will reinvigorate and diversify traditional farm exports like coconut oil, tropical fruits (banana, pineapple and mangoes), tuna, sugar, and abaca, among others.
For emerging markets, he said the country is eyeing at the following countries: South Korea for avocados, after we allowed the entry of Korean paprika into the Philippines; China for bangus or milkfish, as Alsons Aquaculture Corp based in Sarangani, sent an initial shipment of nine tons of bangus to Xiamen; Japan and Malaysia, for pork; and South Korea, for chicken.
For livestock and poultry, Secretary Alcala said that the country will bank on its FMD- and bird flu-freedom to expand the market in Asia, Middle East and other parts of the world.
“These are just some of our initiatives meant to support the continued growth and prosperity of the food, agribusiness and agriculture industry,” the DA chief said.