CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10)
is seeking private-sector investments in agricultural processing, post-harvest facilities, renewable
energy and digital agriculture to increase the value of farm products and support food security in
the region.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan said the government cannot
address food security and agricultural development alone, making partnerships with the private
sector and international investors important in developing agricultural opportunities into
businesses, jobs, and value chains.
“We need a strong and sustained partnership with the private sector, including international
partners, one that transforms agricultural opportunities into viable investments, creates jobs,
strengthens the value chain, and provides better markets and services for our partners and
participants,” Pacamalan said during the second day of the 35th Mindanao Business Conference
at Limketkai Atrium here on Aug. 12.
He identified coffee processing and manufacturing as investment opportunities that could help
turn locally produced beans into higher-value products for domestic and international markets.
Pacamalan said Northern Mindanao imported an average of about 25,100 metric tons of coffee
annually over the past 10 years, indicating a market that local producers and processors could
help supply.
Beyond coffee, he said investments are also needed in post-harvest facilities and processing for
rice, corn and other high-value crops to reduce losses and increase the value of agricultural
products.
Waste-to-energy opportunities
Pacamalan also cited opportunities in circular agriculture, particularly technologies that convert
livestock waste into energy.
Pacamalan said Northern Mindanao has nearly 1 million hogs, providing a potential resource for
biogas and other alternative energy systems.
“This is not merely an investment opportunity, but also a practical approach to circular
agriculture, environmental sustainability, and renewable energy,” he said.

He also cited opportunities to develop halal slaughterhouses and meat-processing facilities, as
well as investments in real-time forecasting and data-driven agriculture.
Digital agriculture
Pacamalan said digital agriculture is another area where private sector partnerships can help to
support the modernization of the sector through technology, data, mapping, monitoring systems
and digital platforms.
He said these tools can improve agricultural planning, service delivery, production and decision-
making.
“These are not merely government programs. These are opportunities for partnership and
investment,” Pacamalan emphasized.
He said DA-10 aims to increase production, improve quality, add value, create markets and
enable farmers to participate in the agricultural value chain.
Pacamalan said DA-10 is prepared to work with private-sector partners on investments that
support agriculture in Northern Mindanao and across Mindanao. (Apipa Bagumbaran/PIA-10)