4-day Cebu Coconut Market Expo kicks off August 12-15

CEBU CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Region VII with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA-7) and the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) kicked off and opened today the 4-day 𝗖𝗘𝗕𝗨 𝗖𝗢𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗘𝗧 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗢 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, August 12-15 at the Main Atrium, Robinsons Galleria, Cebu to celebrate the gift of the coconut and to showcase the finest coconut products that are proudly Cebu.

DTI-7 acting regional director, Esperanza Melgar, in her opening message bared that the 4-day event is packed with activities including an interactive exhibit tour and booth contest on day-1, where booth representatives provide a 2-3-minute pitch about their products and enterprise story.

Day 2 brings in a whole-day coconut culinary showcase called “COCOLINARIA” which features various kinds of cooked our including baking and pastry and gourmet dishes showdown focusing on coconut-based main dishes and ingredients.

 

Day-3 is a series of lectures on food safety and coconut industry briefing including industry production, trends, exports and gaps; while day-4 is the stakeholders’ consultation, CFIDP guidelines presentation and awarding ceremony for best booth, outstanding coconut product innovation and ‘Cocolinaria’ winners.

Coconut industry development in Central Visayas

According to a report from the PCA in the region, the coconut industry in the Philippines, particularly in Central Visayas, is experiencing significant developments aimed at boosting production and export growth.

Key initiatives that push the industry’s growth include the establishments of Coconut Seed Farms in Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol and in Siquijor to promote high-quality coconut production.  Each seed farm receives ₱3 million in annual funding under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).

The PCA here has also put up three processing facilities for copra and virgin coconut oil that are being constructed in Corella and Mabini, Bohol, and Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.  Each facility costs ₱26 million, expected to benefit local coconut farmers' cooperatives.

Three Learning Sites for Coconut Farming have been established in Central Visayas to teach farmers innovative coconut farming techniques and technologies, aiming to increase production and trading, the PCA reports.

PCA’s collaboration with the CFIDP and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) bolster coconut farmers' productivity and entrepreneurship through shared processing facilities and training programs; and certification for coconut farmers, promoting best practices and sustainable farming methods.

According to PCA, the Philippines ranked second to Indonesia in coconut production in 2022, with 14.93 metric tons of coconut produced while Central Visayas is home to the biggest exporter of activated coconut carbon in the country and processes various coconut-based food products. (Photos: DTI/PCA FB/Google Images)