ILOILO City – Around 800 participants from all over the country are expected to attend the first-ever Coffee, Cacao, and Coconut (CoCaNut) National Congress at the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao district from Nov. 8 to 10.
The participants will be composed of exhibitors, producers, buyers, trading companies, universities, research institutions, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), farmer cooperatives, local government units (LGUs), and non-government organizations (NGOs).
Themed “Coffee, Cacao, and Coconut: Thriving and Innovating through Changing Climates,” the 2023 CoCaNut National Congress was organized by Panay Organization for Progressive Agriculture (POPA) Cooperative, Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFC)-Western Visayas, Department of Agriculture (DA), and other national government agencies in support of the Iloilo city and provincial governments.
Larry Nacionales, former regional executive director of the DA-6 and overall chair of CoCaNut Congress, said this aims to promote the three commodities that have been vital in the lives of Filipinos.
“Pukawon naton sila in this Congress nga there’s a big opportunity in coffee, cacao and coconut productions in the Philippines, particularly here in Western Visayas,” said Nacionales in a Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo interview yesterday morning.
He explained that many, not just Filipinos, consume coffee; thus, it is considered the tree of peace and negotiation. He added that it should be highlighted and its production improved by advocating for coffee planters.
The Philippines is the “second largest heavy consumer” of coffee in Asia, next to Japan, he added.
In 2021, Filipinos consumed around 3.05 kilograms of coffee per person per year and is expected to increase to 3.78 kilograms by 2025.
In 2019, citing data from the DA, the Philippines imported around P10 billion worth of coffee.
Cacao, meanwhile, is considered the “tree of love,” according to Nacionales.
He said that although the Philippines is known for its quality cacao, the country is short on production and had to import.
“Hopefully, this Congress will show the participants kon paano ma-increase and productivity,” Nacionales added.
Coconut, considered the “tree of life,” has long been abundant here, according to Nacionales. The Philippines used to be the number one coconut plantation country, a title now held by Indonesia.
“Second na lang kita pero may daku pa nga tsansa kay ang aton Philippine Coconut Authority naga-improve sang variety and hybrid materials nga madali mamunga kag maayo nga quality. Ang coconut is the tree of life; magluwas sa krudo, oil, vinegar, kadamo pa sang puede makwartahan kag mahimu sa iya shell, leaves kag sa iya puno,” he said.
During the three-day congress, speakers and experts were invited to give lectures on major topics such as: Global Outlook of Coffee, Cacao and Coconut Industries in the Local and International Scenario, Economics and the Value Chain of Coconut, and Government initiatives and Financing Schemes for Farmers, Innovations to Increase Competitiveness of Local Production.
A “Trade Exhibition and More” will be participated in by more than 30 exhibitors from all over the country, showcasing different products from the three commodities.
In the opening program on Wednesday, Nov. 8, among the guest speakers are Dr. Louie S. Tirador, POPA Agriculture Cooperative chairperson; Mayor Jerry P. Treñas; Gov. Arthur R. Defensor Jr.; Sen. Cynthia Villar, Senate Committee Chair on Agriculture and Food; Regional Executive Director Dennis R. Arpia of Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6; and DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban./PN
