Pagadian City, November 10 (PIA) -- A consultative meeting of the region’s coco-coir processors, traders, officials of small coconut farmers associations, national government agencies, and other stakeholders of the industry is scheduled to be held in Pagadian City on November 16.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Dir. Nazrullah Manzur said the consultation aims to spur the growth and development of the coco-coir industry in Region 9.
“The industry holds so much potentials for the region especially in exports. But there are a lot of gaps and issues and concerns confronting the industry to date that hinder its growth. We hope to iron those out in this consultative meeting with the stakeholders," Manzur said.
“This consultative meeting is actually just the first of a series of inter-agency activities planned to help the industry. Depending on the results of the consultation, prioritization of assistance and intervention from the government in terms of financing, organizational development, marketing, productivity improvement, and provision of an enabling environment shall be identified," he added.
Manzur pointed that the DTI is just one of the agencies of government mandated to help develop the coco-coir industry of the country.
“We are working closely with partner agencies such as the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) to provide a comprehensive package of support to the industry," Manzur said.
“The coco-coir industry holds so much potentials considering that we are one of the top coconut producing regions in the country," he added.
According to him, the region is third in area planted and volume of production. He said coco-based products such as coco-oil and pellets, remain the region’s top dollar earner.
But much of the coconut husks in the region, according to Manzur, are left to rot as agricultural waste instead of being processed into useful products such as coco-coir which are in demand abroad. (lsv/dti9/pia9/alt)