Ilocos Norte goes into coffee farming

MANILA, Philippines – Ilocos Norte, through its Special Projects and Development Office is venturing into coffee farming to boost agricultural development.

SPDO chief Edwin Cariño is urging local farmers to engage in coffee production, which does not require much water supply and other planting costs.

Under the program. SPDO will not only provide seedlings to interested farmers but give technical assistance as well.

Cariño noted that “the market demand for coffee remains high in the national level,” citing the agriculture department’s data which showed that “an average Filipino consumes 1.2 kilos of coffee annually.”

 “Some farmers have already expressed their interest in this endeavor and we are encouraging more Ilocanos to utilize their uncultivated lands for agricultural purposes,” Cariño said.

Promoting high value crops in Ilocos Norte is in line with Ilocos Norte’s thrust of strengthening sustainable agriculture.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said ‘engaging in the industry will raise economic activity in the long run as it creates alternative source of livelihood for Ilocano farmers.’