DA sets aside P84 million to boost coffee output

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated P84.15 million this year to fund projects that aim to boost coffee production in the country.

The funding under High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) aims to improve productivity, product quality and profitability of Filipino coffee growers for the long term.

Coffee is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world, making it a major contributor to the Philippine economy.

Of the total, P30.37 million has been set aside for the rehabilitation of 486,450 old trees while P10.56 million will be spent for the acquisition of planting materials to be distributed to local growers.

In addition, P7.79 million will go to the maintenance of production facilities in DA stations, and P5.84 million for research and development.

The coffee fund will also be used for capability enhancement and training of stakeholders, construction of storage facilities, roasting centers, and other production equipment, as well as various farm inputs.

At present, the country is 15 percent self-sufficient in coffee. Bulk of the production comes from Mindanao with an 83.63 percent share, followed by Luzon at 9.18 percent, and Visayas at 7.2 percent.

However, coffee production has been on a downtrend in the past couple of years, according to the DA.

In 2015, yield reached 36,171 metric tons (MT) of green coffee beans (GCB). Production dipped to 30,320.47 MT GCB in 2020 and decreased further to 30,303.59 MT GCB last year.

Last June, the DA launched the Coffee Industry Road Map 2021-2025, along with other commodity road maps, as guide to the improvement of the different Philippine agriculture sectors.

Through this detailed plan, key players and government agencies will be guided on the progress of the industry. It aims to increase yields, incomes, and improve farm productivity.

The roadmap was designed to enhance farmers’ technical capability and skills and create avenues to attain food security and alleviate poverty.

Through the five-year strategy, DA will intensify the promotion of local coffee products for the short term.

For the medium term, it shall forge partnerships with the private sector, while linking local growers with high-end local coffee shops.

Over the long-term, an online database of information such as current price, production volume, and yield, among others will be created to provide valuable information to stakeholders. This can be easily accessed by stakeholders and be used to initiate opportunities towards the development of quality coffee products that are globally competitive.