Gov't, private sector meet to boost coffee industry

MANILA, Philippines - In an effort to boost the Philippine coffee industry, the National Convergence Initiative (NCI) in collaboration with Nestle Philippines, Inc. will be hosting the 2nd Philippine Coffee Investors’ Forum on November 28 at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.

Similar to the first leg held in Manila in March this year, the second leg will serve as a venue for government and the private sector to share knowledge and opportunities available in coffee farming. The second leg of the forum will gather some 150 potential investors, majority coming from the Visayas-Mindanao areas.

Leading the opening of the forum will be Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala along with Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary Jerry S. Pacturan and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Marlo Mendoza. The three agencies comprise the National Convergence Initiative. The convergence initiative czars will share the sustainable rural development initiatives of the government to help intensify growth and strategic development of the local coffee industry.

Marriz Manuel B. Agbon, the National Focal Person of the NCI for Sustainable Rural Development will also be speaking to introduce the convergence initiative. From the side of Nestle, Art Baria, Head of the Agricultural Department will be sharing the technical assistance and training that can be provided by Nestle for local farmers.

The local coffee sector promises a strong potential in coffee farming owing to the increasing demand of a growing market here and abroad. According to 2010 data from Nielsen, coffee is the second most bought item inside a store and is the 2nd most consumed beverage next to packaged water. Today, the annual local demand for coffee beans is pegged at 64,000 metric tons and valued at P2.5 billion.