TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA)  - - The pineapple farmers of Cagayan Valley Region see a bright opportunity as they are being eyed for the production of raw materials needed for leather-making. 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2 and the Kapwa Agri have engaged into a partnership to assist the local pineapple growers for the possible production of pineapple fiber, the material needed to create leather for international export. 

The Kapwa Agri is a sustainable agriculture start-up engaged in responsible farming, trade, and processing of agri-fishery commodities. They also help companies integrate sustainable and ethical practices into their supply chain.

Patrick Doromal, Kapwa Agri founder, said that one of his clients is producing a unique leather product out of pineapple fiber which is processed in Laguna, but the products are now exported in the Europe and North America. 

The business firm is hoping that the Cagayan Valley Region will be one of its suppliers to meet the required three to five tons of fiber for monthly production. 

Michael Paggabao, Officer-in-Charge of the SME Development Division of DTI Region 2, said that there were already two farmer cooperatives that were initially identified for the production -- the Santa Ana Pineapple Farmers Cooperative in Cagayan and the Caviteño Isabelino Agriculture Cooperative (CIACO) in Isabela.

He also said that they will conduct farm visits to capacitate the farmer beneficiaries and assess the quality of pineapple leaves they produce. (MDCT/JKC/OTB/PIA Cagayan/With reports from DTI)