Davao farmers get training from Japanese chocolate maker

Cacao farmers in Davao City are receiving technical assistance from a Japanese chocolate maker through a technical assistance from the Japanese government.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and chocolate firm Dari-K recently concluded a feasibility study on promoting high-value cacao production in Mindanao as part of its partnership program with Japanese SMEs that aim to address poverty challenges in partner countries.

Around 200 farmers will benefit from the technical assistance program that will be carried out soon.

Davao is the source of 80 percent of Philippine cacao exports but despite the abundant supply, farmers lacked the capabilities to process cacao into premium products.

As part of the feasibility study for the technical cooperation project, Dari-K held a chocolate making seminar for students of a local high school and several cacao farmers.

”This cooperation will be helpful to us so we can develop know-how in value added cacao processing and encourage farmers to become entrepreneurs,” said Alfonso Andoy, manager of the Biao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative in Talandang, Davao City.

Dari-K CEO Keiichi Yoshino, a former stock broker in Japan before becoming a social entrepreneur, said they are looking into possible ventures with cacao farmers.

“The Philippine government is strongly supporting the cacao industry. We observed that there are very few processors in the Philippines and we wanted to build the capacity of local farmers in processing cacao that meet international standards and also for the local people to patronize their own local chocolates,” Yoshino said.

Dari-K had similar efforts in raising productivity of farmers in Indonesia. It is exploring the same model to help Filipino farmers.

Cacao farm owners in Davao who are already making chocolates from their own produce are now considering making artisanal chocolates for the local market after attending Dari-K’s past seminars, JICA said.