Iloilo City — “We must adapt to new technologies,” said Engr. Buen Mondejar, the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) Western Visayas Chairperson, during his speech at the first-ever Coffee and Cacao Summit in Iloilo City on August 9, 2024.
To revitalize the region‘s coffee and cacao industries, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (DA-PCAF) partnered with the Panay Organization for Progressive Agriculture (POPA) Cooperative to invite over 150 coffee and cacao farmers to address critical issues affecting production and supply and explore strategies to boost regional production.
In his speech, Mondejar advised participants to “apply science in farming,” especially since El Niño threatens the region’s coffee and cacao production.
Themed “CoCa Summit: Combating the Challenges of Our Times,” PCAF OIC Executive Director Julieta E. Opulencia emphasized that the summit is part of the agency’s commitment to engaging more agriculture stakeholders in public consultations.
“By bringing together key stakeholders, including farmers, traders, and various government agencies, this summit provides a unique opportunity to assess the current state of the coffee and cacao industry, identify pressing challenges, and develop effective solutions,” said Opulencia.
Meanwhile, Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia, represented by Zarlina Cuello, Regional Technical Director of Western Visayas, expressed appreciation for the partnership and the opportunity to support agricultural development in the region.
“We thank [our private stakeholders] for engaging in this kind of dialogue to collaboratively discuss sector challenges, share best practices, and develop actionable solutions,” said RTD Cuello.
Among the featured speakers was Angelica Zafica, the RAFC 11 sectoral representative on International Trade, who stressed the need for farmers to adopt international standards for planting and harvesting coffee to achieve the highest possible market prices.
“The price of robusta beans in the local market is PhP250 per kilo, but there is a significant opportunity for farmers to tap into international markets where they can command higher prices,” Zafica said.
The CoCa summit served as a precursor to the Visayas-wide AFC Stakeholders Conference, which will be held in Iloilo City from August 14 to 15, 2024.
Key agricultural stakeholders, including farmers, government officials, industry experts, and civil society organizations, will convene to discuss pressing agriculture issues in the Visayas. | PDD Chief Melinda Quiñones
