The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the creation of a coffee council in Negros Island Region (NIR) to strengthen the development of the coffee industry in the country’s newest administrative region.
“I would like to encourage you or to consider creating the coffee council for NIR. We’re looking forward to see it happen. We have projects and programs lined up for that,” DAR-NIR Regional Director Albert Barrogo said in his message at the opening of the second edition of the Negros Occidental Coffee Fiesta at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City on Friday, August 8.
He noted that while the Negros Occidental Coffee Council has been organizing its own events here, Negros Oriental also has a “very active” coffee sector.
Barrogo said the NIR coffee council should also involve the concerned government agencies, particularly the DA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
DTI-NIR Assistant Regional Director Juliet Banogon said they remain committed to providing programs and services that support innovation, skills development, and excellence in the coffee industry.
“In the region, we support our coffee micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the value chain through industry clustering approach, product development programs, market access initiatives, and capacity building activities,” she said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said the Negros Occidental Coffee Fiesta plays a vital role in creating a stronger connection between producers and consumers.
“It also opens up new market opportunities and raises awareness of the challenges faced by our local farmers, and celebrating the richness of our province’s coffee heritage,” she said.
Negros Occidental Coffee Council chairperson Christian Marc Romay said they aim to make Coffee Fiesta an annual event, with support from government agencies, non-government organizations, and MSMEs.
“Our main goal is to make sure we bridge the gap between the producers and the consumers. It’s the anchor of our advocacy, our producers should not have a hard time marketing their products and at the same time, the coffee shop owners, MSMEs and consumers will be provided good quality coffee,” he said.
This year’s Negros Occidental Coffee Fiesta is participated by 22 coffee shops, several of the coffee-producing local government units, and organized farmers’ associations.*PNA