The regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 11) reported its accomplishments in promoting the region’s high value crops during its preliminary annual performance report on Thursday of the various sectors and industries from January to November 2019.
In the cacao industry cluster, DTI 11 reported a successful facilitation of the Businesw Matching Session with the European delegation and the Davao City chocolate processors and farmers organization last May 27 where at least P16,000 was generated in terms of sales for the cacao lamps from Teles Lamps; provision of cacao bean samples to Save Chocolates by Subasta Integrated farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative; featuring of cacao leaves during Salon Du Chocolat in Paris in October 2019; and technology sharing.
The agency also conducted public consultation meeting on the revised cacao specifications last September 19 in Davao City which was attended by 50 cacao stakeholders.
To improve farm productivity and increase production and access to quality planting materials, a cacao doctors’ training was also conducted last march 4 to 7 which was attended by cacao farmers. To strengthen the effort, the cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc (CIDAMI) also conducted cacao bean profiling and bean grading which is very relevant in cacao processing.
DTI 11 also conducted a consultative meeting with the province of Davao del Sur’s cacao growers to identify gaps and further assistance needed to increase production volume.
On the coconut industry cluster, DTI 11 addressed production gaps by conducting a consultative meetings with various coconut farmer groups in Davao del Sur. It also addressed other issues in order to meet volume requirement of existing buyers. The agency also facilitated visit of the officials of Guangzhou Food Enterprises Association (GFEA) namely President Mai Jiaying and vice presidents Ma Haiping and Lian Peiqiang last September 9 to 10 in Davao City.
The said officials also met with the coconut stakeholders from Davao Region to discuss possible partnership since the demand for coconut products in Guangzhou, China have been on the rise. Likewise their company was able to visit some of the coconut farms and participated in the Davao Agri-Trade Expo (DATE) in September this year.
For the coffee industry cluster, the Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental Coffee Councils were organized. These Ad hoc provincial coffee council were anchored on the Davao Region Coffee Council which aims to promote the coffee industry in the region.
DTI 11, Department of Tourism 11, and ACDI/VOCA PhilCaFE spearheaded the conduct of the Specialty Coffee Forum dubbed as Promoting Local Tourism through culture and coffee last August 8, 2019.
For the bamboo industry cluster, DTI 11 conducted the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in Compostela Valley Province in March this year and discussed the issues and concerns that will serve as an input to the plans and activities of the industry.
A presentation showed potential market of bamboo fabrics and its huge demand from the domestic markets.
On the banana industry cluster, the agency also spearheaded the conduct of the banana Productivity Enhancement Activity and farm visit of the seven agrarian reform beneficiary cooperatives composed of 35 agrarian reform beneficiaries and small banana growers in Davao del Norte.
