Davide vows to support coffee, cacao farming

Cebu Provincial Governor Hilario Davide III vowed to intensify the province's support in maximizing the potential of some towns to grow coffee and cacao trees.

Noting the high demand for these two crops in both local and international markets, Davide said he will reinforce the ongoing program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in encouraging farmers to plant cacao and coffee to earn high income.

According to Davide, Cebu has initially identified thousands of hectares of farm lands with fertile soil fit for growing coffee and cacao.

Davide mentioned the good initiative started by Tuburan municipal Mayor Aljun Diamante in developing coffee farming among its constituents, saying this is a good model for other towns to emulate.

Likewise, Davide also encouraged other towns within the province to promote cacao farming as the demand for chocolate here and abroad is also growing by double digits.

Davide said the province work in coordination with the DA, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to provide farmers with the right approach in starting coffee and cacao farms even in their backyards, or alongside coconut farms.

In a separate earlier interview with Diamante, he said that the municipality of Tuburan in the north-eastern part of Cebu is now on the process of making its 2,000 hectares coffee farming a tourism destination.

Diamante said that the coffee producing mountain barangays in the town is now gaining popularity among local tourists.

Aside from starting its works to build cottages, and improving the accommodation facilities in Tuburan, Diamante said he is also coordinating with Department of Tourism and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fix the road going to the coffee farm.

The coffee farm, which managed by Kafamco (Kabangkalan Agro Forestry Farmers Association Multipurpose Cooperative ), aims not only to give livelihood of the over a thousand farmers from coffee farming, but also taking advantage of the eco-tourism niche of Tuburan.

The farm alone has the capacity to produce P4.3 million kilos of beans a year. If this is roasted and sold at prevailing P600 per kilo, it has a potential to earn over P2 billion annually.

Aside from this earning, the farmers can also make money out of tourism. —