UP Mindanao Agri Aqua Value Chain Laboratory (AAVC Lab) recently convened stakeholders in Davao City to discuss innovative strategies for enhancing agricultural value chains. The forum, themed “Exploring Strategic Insights in Value Chain Development with Stakeholders: The Role of Clustering, Value-adding, and Information and Communication Technology,” showcased the AAVC Lab’s research findings and potential solutions for coffee, cacao, and cavendish banana producers on October 17, 2024 at the Pinnacle Hotel, Davao City.
Funded by the Department of Science and Technology through the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), the AAVC Lab has conducted in-depth analyses of selected commodity value chains: coffee, cacao, and Cavendish banana. The output of these analyses includes value-addition, clustering, and the development of ICT-based technologies, such as mobile applications designed to calculate production costs and optimize the farmers’ profitability.
During the forum, AAVC Lab team presented their findings on various topics. Asst. Prof. Shemaiah Gail P. Placencia, AAVC Lab Project staff presented the ‘Policy Outlooks for Clustering and Consolidation in Agriculture’; Ms. Carol Balgos, AAVC Lab Project Staff discussed ‘Enhancing Utilization of Value-adding Facilities among Small-scale Cacao Farmers’; Dr. Giovanna Fae R. Oguis, AAVC Lab Project 2 Leader presented the ‘Agri-Technology Adoption through Establishing Digital Hubs’; and Asst. Prof. Jon Henly O. Santillan, AAVC Lab Project Leader 3 ran a simulation on the ‘Mobile Application Tools for the Coffee Farmer, Cavendish Banana Farmers, and Cacao Farmers.’
Prof. Larry N. Digal, Program Director of AAVC Lab, emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to implement the research findings effectively. He encouraged participants to engage in discussions, ask questions, and reinforce solutions to issues by exploring partnerships in implementing them.
Representatives from various government agencies, academic institutions, and private organizations attended the forum, including the Davao de Oro State College, Mindanao Development Authority, UPMin School of Management, DOST-PCAARRD, PAGRO, Kennemer Foods International Inc. (KFI), FAC/IVC, University of Southeastern Philippines, DAR Regional XI, DTI-RAPID, RACO, UPSTREAM, DUBRIA FARM, SKSU STEPAPP TBI, CITY AGRI-DAVAO, Balutakay Coffee farmers Association (BACOFA), Digos City LGU, PWC FPIC, LGU-LEBAK, CSI-NAVCO, and the Department of Agriculture XI.
UPMin Office of Research Director Prof. May Anne E. Mata, in closing, highlighted the significance of the forum as a turning point in agricultural development. She emphasized the AAVC Lab’s commitment to empowering farmers through data-driven decision-making to boost their profitability and efficiency.
Written by: KC Abella