DA-7 assists coco-coffee farmers in Danao, Compostela

CEBU, Philippines — At least two farmer associations in Danao City and Compostela, Cebu engaged in the coconut-cacao production were monitored by the Department of Agriculture in the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) under the Coconut Based Coffee and/or Cacao Enterprise Development Project.

According to DA-7, the associations monitored were the Sta. Rosa Farmers Association (Sta. Rosa FA) of Danao City for their 11.8 hectares cacao plantation and the Mulao Women Farmers Association (Mulao Women FA) of Compostela for their 8.1 hectares cacao area.

John Dennis Ranario, the regional focal person on DA-High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), said through the CFIDP, these existing cacao trees were subjected to rehabilitation/rejuvenation.

To receive the benefits from CFIDP, DA-7 said that farmer beneficiaries are encouraged to willingly adopt the coconut-coffee or coconut-cacao cropping system to optimize the target yield of both crops.

Interventions provided include fertilizers (organic and in-organic), planting materials, and inputs to the farms of the beneficiaries.

Cacao farmer beneficiary Edwin Gonzales, president of Sta. Rosa FA, was grateful to DA for providing them with interventions that help restore their cacao trees.

Wilma Cañete, who is the president of the Mulao Women FA, expressed her happiness when she saw the changes in their cacao trees after receiving intervention from DA and PCA.

On the side of DA-PhilMech, which is part of the monitoring team, is scouting for prospective farmer associations to be recipients of their program like the Shared Service Facility.

Member beneficiaries were encouraged to be duly registered with the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS) for PCA and the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) for DA in order to receive interventions and programs in the future. — (FREEMAN)