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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI has organized a significant week-long trade fair, 'Madayaw Coconut Philippines: A Davao Region Trade Fair,' aimed at elevating the profile of local coconut products. Scheduled from July 28 to August 3 at SM Lanang, the event seeks to promote goods from coconut farmers and cooperatives within the region, with a strategic focus on enhancing domestic awareness and connecting producers with both local consumers and institutional buyers.
Rachel S. Remitio, assistant regional director for DTI XI, highlighted the diverse range of offerings at the fair. 'We believe that we really have a lot of coconut products that Davao Region can showcase,' Remitio stated, emphasizing that the event is designed to assist farmers in promoting their already developed food and non-food coconut items. These include featured food products such as energy drinks and virgin coconut oil (VCO), alongside non-food wellness items like ointments and coconut vinegar.
Remitio further confirmed that all participating products have successfully met regulatory standards, a critical prerequisite for DTI-sanctioned trade fairs. This ensures that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) adhere to essential regulations. She noted that Davao Region's virgin coconut oil and various wellness products have already garnered considerable international acclaim, attributed to their recognized health benefits and compliance with global standards.
The DTI official underscored the fair's objective to cultivate a similar level of recognition and patronage among local consumers. 'If our international markets are looking into this, how much more should the local market benefit from these local products that we produce?' Remitio posed. She explained that the event is strategically structured to provide cooperatives with market exposure, facilitate valuable feedback from buyers and consumers for product improvement, and ultimately drive sales growth.
A total of 31 coconut farmers’ organizations are expected to participate in the 'Madayaw Coconut Philippines: A Davao Region Trade Fair.' This fair runs concurrently as a side event to the Coconut Cooperative Development Summit, slated for July 28-29. Remitio also pointed out that Davao Region boasts the largest area planted to coconut in the Philippines, a factor that has spurred intensified promotional and assistance efforts across the region. Beyond fresh coconuts, the region is also a key exporter of processed coconut products.
This trade fair forms a crucial component of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) for 2024-2028, an extensive collaborative initiative involving several government agencies. Under the CFIDP, DTI is responsible for market promotion and development, while the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) focuses on farm productivity and the distribution of coconut seedlings to meet market demands. Academic support is provided by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through scholarships for agriculture-related courses, and the Agricultural Training Institute, under the Department of Agriculture, conducts vital technical and entrepreneurial training programs.
Source: Mindanao Times