CHED funded two-year arabica Coffee R&D program in CAR officially starts

ITH a funding of PhP9.7 Million from the Commission on Higher EducationWHigher

Education Development Fund the Benguet State University through the Higher Education Regional Research Center will be implementing a two-year (2017-2019) research project on “Arabica Coffee R and D in CAR”.

The two-year program is expected to help sustain and conserve the traditional Arabica coffee cultivars grown in Benguet and Mountain Province.

This R&D program is composed of five projects;1) Cultivar Identification and Genetic Fingerprinting of Arabica Coffee (Coffea Arabica L.) Germplasm through DNA Markers and Micropropagation of the “Pure” Typica Cultivar and other Traditional Cultivars from Benguet and Mountain Province” under the leadership of Dr. Belinda A. Tad-awan; 2) Evaluation and Development of Best Practices for Rejuvenation, Postharvest Processing and Storage for Quality Coffee Production in Beguet and Mountain Province under the leadership of Prof. Valentino L. Macanes; 3) Development of Biocontrol-based Strategies Against Insect Pests and Diseases of Arabica Coffee under the leadership of Dr. Bernard S. Tad-awan; 4) Soil Conservation, Microclimate Management and Climate Change Vulnerability of Coffee Production in Upland Sloping Areas: Towards a Sustainable Arabica Coffee-Based Agroforestry System under the leadership of Dr. Janet P. Pablo; and 5) Policy Analysis Towards a Convergence Roadmap for the Agro-enterprise Development of Arabica Coffee Industry in Benguet and Mountain Province under the leadership of Dr. Ruth S. Batani.

The program is in collaboration with various agencies in Benguet and Mountain Province such as Mountain Province State Polytechnic College and Local Government Unit of different municipalities of Benguet (Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, La Trinidad, Mankayan, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay) and Mountain Province (Barlig, Bauko, Besao, Bontoc, Sabangan, Sagada, and Tadian).