Zamboanga Peninsula gears up for cacao boom

THE GOVERNMENT is intensifying its efforts to boost cacao production in the Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen) with aims of making the province the ‘Cacao Capital of Mindanao.’

“The world’s demand for cacao ( cocoa) and its products is increasing and we need to plant now, so eventually, we will become the Cacao Capital in Mindanao,” according to Angelo H. Sunglao, chairman for the private sector on the multisectoral Zamboanga Peninsula Cacao Industry Cluster Team, as quoted in a statement released on Tuesday, by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Mr. Sunglao added that the country should step up to the challenge of producing 100,000 metric tons of cacao beans by 2020, the target set by the government.

“We consume 50,000 metric tons of cacao while we only produce 10 thousand metric tons. Majority of cacao production was supplied by Davao region followed by Eastern Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula is third,” he added.

As one of its interventions for the cacao industry, the regional office of the DA has distributed 450 thousand cacao seedlings this year to benefit farmers of ZamPen.

“The Department alone has allotted P16 million for cacao planting materials and this would cover 900 thousand hectares for the entire region. We will likely to have a booming cacao industry here in the peninsula in the coming years,” said Ana S. Aying, High Value Crops Coordinator for Region IX, in the statement.

Since early last year, experts have been forecasting a world shortage of one million metric tons of cacao on account of surging chocolate demand.

Additionally, the DA and the Mindanao Development Authority are also seeking to develop cacao nursery facilities in aid of the Cacao Double- Up Program, according to Ms Aying.

“There will be four structures to be established regionwide, one in Zamboanga City, one in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur and two in Zamboanga del Norte. Each facility will cost P1.3 million, totaling P5.2 million under the High Value Crops Development Program,” Ms. Aying added. —