CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) is set to stage a formal recognition of the region’s coffee farmers and their invaluable contributions to the development of the coffee industry in Mindanao.
In a courtesy call to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado on April 15 at the agency compound, Nestlé Philippines, Inc. through Government and Industry Affairs Executive Donnel Jun M. Tiedra bared its plans to partner with the DA to conduct a stakeholders event that showcases coffee farmers, as well as their coffee production processes that employ Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and regenerative farming methods.
The event will draw partners from the national and local government, as well as prominent farmer-leaders and producers of coffee in Mindanao who share in the success of the growing coffee production and industry in the region and the country.
Tiedra further said that the event is also an opportunity for partners in the government and private sector to revisit the salient points of Senate Bill No. 321, otherwise known as the Coffee Development Act of 2016, which aims to advance an industry-wide development of coffee in the Philippines through systematic programs geared toward effective coffee production systems, provision of technical assistance and processing technologies, research, and marketing and promotion of coffee for domestic and export markets.
Slated to be conducted in the month of May, the event coincides with the annual celebration of the National Farmers and Fisherfolk Month, to which RED Collado said is an opportune time for stakeholders in the public and private sector to reiterate their support for the said key actors in agriculture.
“We want to maximize this event not only by recognizing our coffee farmers in the region, but also by responding to their needs for agricultural inputs, machineries, and equipment. It is exciting that we will conduct this event with the support of the DA through Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., our lawmakers, and partners in the local government,” RED Collado said.
DA-10 through its High Value Crops Development Program led by focal person Kersten S. Pagalan will coordinate with Nestlé Philippines on the necessary preparations for the said event.
