INDANG, Cavite -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is optimistic that with industry support, the country’s local coffee products can join the league of the world’s most competitive coffee brands.
DTI Cordillera Regional Director Myrna P. Pablo, National Industry Cluster Coordinator for Coffee, said that DTI aims to develop the coffee industry as a cost-competitive, quality-driven, supply-reliable, and product-diversified value chain in the next five years.
The department has publicized its Philippine Coffee Industry Roadmap 2017-2022 in the recently concluded 1st National Coffee Education Congress hosted by the Cavite State University (CvSU) at its main campus here.
Pablo explained that the roadmap strategy requires coffee production, from farming to manufacturing, to observe best and sustainable practices that conform to food safety, quality control, and environmental requirements.
The DTI has lined up various interventions, including improved quality and availability of planting materials, enhanced farm efficiency and investments, and competitive market pricing, and setting coffee standards.
According to Pablo, the coffee roadmap was approved by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol and DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez last March.
The document reports on the coffee industry's general production and market trends, development milestones, opportunities and industry targets, as well as the harmonized programs and projects of various concerned agencies to achieve their targets.
The roadmap intends to make the sector contribute more to the country’s goal of attaining food security and alleviating poverty.
It is now up for localization by stakeholders in the regions with respect to details on work and financial plans, doable activities per strategic objective, targets of regions per roadmap indicator, and financial requirement and sourcing.
Coffee congress participants from State University and Colleges (SUCs) and Research Development Institutions (RDIs) are also set to disseminate their Research, Development and Extension results and showcase the latest technology on coffee in preparation for the full implementation of ASEAN Integration in 2018.
The CvSU, as the lead coffee research center, hosted the three-day conference themed “Recognizing the Roles of SUCs in the Development of the Philippine Coffee Industry” from Nov. 6 to 8.
Various resource speakers discussed the holistic approach in addressing the issues and challenges of the coffee sector from production, processing marketing, social/ gender issues, and most importantly, the roles of SUCs in coffee research and development. (PNA)
