First Agri-Negosyo Seminar for Filipinos in US Highlights Investment Opportunities in Coffee Sector

The first Agri-Negosyo Seminar was held by the Philippine Embassy on April 8 via web and featured presentations by Chief of the Philippine Coffee Advancement and Farm Enterprise (PhilCAFE) Project, TJ Ryan, Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit, Evelyn Laviña, and DTI Regional Director for the Cordillera Administrative Region, Myrna Pablo. They each shared their agencies’ respective programs in support of overseas Filipinos who may want to go into the business of producing and distributing Philippine coffee.

“The opportunity in the Philippines is tremendous. It’s spectacular,” said Ryan. “93% of the coffee is imported, and the growth of brewed coffee is likely to grow in a robust way. Buyers are, of course, looking for producers who can deliver quality on a consistent basis. It’s a question of getting quality planting material, learning, good agricultural practices and good processing practices.” (via Inquirer)

PhilCAFE leverages private and public capital to put the National Coffee Roadmap into action by empowering legacy institutions such as the Philippines Coffee Council, state universities and colleges (SUCs), private universities, and industry actors to support the sustained development of the coffee sector.

“Coffee is a high-value crop. It cannot be denied… despite being considered a value crop and a priority commodity, the full potential and growth of the industry are yet to be realized. Living within the limited budget, we have been implementing programs toward the development of the Philippine coffee industry,” said Laviña.

Pablo reported that training and other technical assistance are given to coffee MSMEs like good manufacturing practices, roasting, green grading, cupping, product development, training on e-commerce, and marketing activities like participation in trade fair exhibits.

The Philippines is currently the fourth largest coffee consumer in the world, but it imports 93% of its coffee requirement. The country grows all four coffee species: Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa, and Liberica, with one specific variety known as “kapeng barako.”

SOURCE: Inquirer