The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) is one with the nation in celebrating the 33rd National Coconut Week or "Coco Week" this August.

Technologies and best practices will be showcased throughout the celebration to promote coconut productivity and production of value-added export products, such as coconut water, activated carbon, coco coir (fiber), and coconut oil.

The country is home to successful coconut farmers with vast lands dedicated to coconut farming and recording over a million metric tons of harvest in a quarter. Among thriving local producers is Gerardo Cordero of GerNil’s Farm, hailed as Gawad Saka Outstanding Coconut Farmer in 2017. GerNil’s Farm is a School for Practical Agriculture that serves as ATI’s partner in extension delivery, along with other farms in the country that promote and produce coconut.

As mandated by Proclamation 142, signed by the late President Corazon Aquino in 1987, Coco Week is celebrated every August. This year, the event comes with the theme "Niyog arugain, produkto tangkilikin," honoring the country’s own coconut produce.

Part of the activities during the celebration is the 2nd World Coconut Congress which will be held on August 27-29 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The event will build on the success of its inaugural staging last year with discussions on various topics, like market access and global market trends, and showcase and exhibition of coconut products and technologies. This is organized by the United Coconut Associations of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Philippine Coconut Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., and the International Coconut Community.

For more information on the trade fair and exhibit, visit www.worldcoconutcongress.com/.