The Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies will be holding free seminars, technical workshops and demos, investment forum, and business-to-business (B2B) seminars at Agrilink 2017, which will be held from October 5 to 7 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

This was announced by the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (FRLD) headed by Antonio V. Roces.

The event’s theme this year, according to Roces is “Improved Varieties and Postharvest Facilities: Essential to Profitability.” This will highlight how improved crop varieties, complemented with yield-enhancing postharvest facilities, can help increase and sustain agricultural productivity as well as elevate the farmers’ and fisherfolk’s incomes. Agrilink’s regional focus is Region XI, or the Davao region, known to be one of the world’s leading producers of tropical fruits—from bananas, mangoes and papaya to mangosteen, and even flowers.

On October 5, senior science research specialist Wilmer Faylon of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) will have a seminar on production systems and meat processing of organically grown native pig. The seminar is BAR-funded project and the result of research and development from the DA’s Regional Field Office IV.

On the same day the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will conduct its 4th fishery business forum and conference, which will highlight the business growth potentials of the country as major exporter of fishery products to European and East Asian markets. BFAR will also present the new initiatives and programs for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, and will also have a market and business matching of buyers and suppliers.

On October 6, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), will unveil its latest innovations in cacao, the main ingredient for chocolates and other confectionaries. These innovations include postharvest technologies that farmers and stakeholders can utilize to prolong the shelf life of cacao beans, minimize wastage during its harvest and improve its quality as an exported product.

PhilMech will also conduct trainings that will help mitigate cacao diseases through the use of environment-friendly microbials. It will also demonstrate how cacao pod husks can be used as fuel. PhilMech will also show the various by-products of cacao sweats (drippings produced before the fermentation process) which can be used as ingredients for soft drinks, wine and vinegar.

From October 6 to 7, the DA will have an agribusiness investment forum on pili nut, goat raising, dragon fruit, black pepper and cacao. The DA holds investment forums throughout the country and abroad to promote opportunities in Philippine agricultural commodities. This is complemented with enterprise development seminars that assist micro, small and medium businesses in improving their operations and widening their products’ access to different markets. The DA’s investment forums at Agrilink 2017 will feature the latest market information to help farmers and fisherfolk enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities. It will include technical seminars on production and management of pili nut, a high-value crop.

DA will also show the profitability and sustainability in goat raising. Dragonfruit, a priority commodity under the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) due to its economic viability, will also be discussed. The forum will also provide investment opportunities in black pepper and cacao, both of which have high export value and are now being cultivated and processed in regions such as Davao.