Eleven local farmer organizations (FOs) and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Northern Mindanao supported by the Rural Agro-Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) join the movement for green economic development by showcasing their products in the Forest Fair 2024 in Ayala Malls Centrio, Cagayan de Oro City.
Forest Fest 2024 is a unique gathering that serves as a platform to encourage social entrepreneurs to innovate solutions for forest protection, particularly through nature-based enterprises. It unites drivers of environmental impact including diverse stakeholders such as social enterprises, local communities, conservation groups, and the private sector.
The participating FOs and MSMEs are: Bayanihan Millennium Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Impalutao Dalwangan Sawaga (IMDALSA) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, MILALITTRA Farmers Agricultural Cooperative (MILFACO), Manggayahay Talaandig Tribal Association (MANTALA), Inc., and Malitbog Industrial and Agricultural Association (MIAA) from Bukidnon; Bagong Silang ARC Community Cooperative, Sikyop Agriculture Cooperative, and Lanao del Norte Cacao Producers Cooperative from Lanao del Norte; and Blooming Forest Workers Multipurpose Cooperative, Mat-i Higaonon Free Farmers Association (MAHIFFA), and Samay Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Misamis Oriental.
Aside from providing free tastes on chocolate spread and ground coffee beans, the FOs and MSMEs additionally participated in learning sessions and livelihood activities such as Handicrafts and Tribal Accessories Making and Banig Weaving and Beads Accessories (bracelet and earrings) Workshop.
Forest Fest 2024 is organized by the Forest Foundation Philippines together with The Spark Project. ♦
Date of Release: 24 April 2024
