Bright prospects seen for RP cocoa industry

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s vibrant cocoa industry takes center stage as the Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines (Cocoaphil) and ACDI/VOCA hold the Philippine Cacao Summit on August 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall Conference Room B of the SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

According to Cocoaphil president Edward David, Cocoa is undergoing resurgence, due largely to Success Alliance Philippines Phase II program funded by the US Department of Agriculture and implemented by ACDI/VOCA and the Cocoaphil.

With guests of honor United States Ambassador Kirstie Kenney and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, the event will discuss ways in strengthening the resurgent industry and meeting global demands.

He said that the vast potential for expansion for cocoa, with in excess of 2,000,000 hectares of coconut lands highly suited to inter-planting with cocoa. The global demand for cocoa beans grows at about 90,000 tons annually, and Southeast Asia would need an additional 220,000 tons.

The Summit will also tackle the Promotion of SA II Program, Evaluation of the Consultant’s Report, and plan for the Cocoa Sector Growth and Investment Forum and Panels.

The USDA-funded Success Alliance Phase 2 Program was launched in 2006 trained 150 trainers and 15,000 smallholder farmers in cocoa production, post-harvest processing, pest and disease management, and marketing through the farmer field school (FFS) methodology and participatory extension methods.

ACDI-VOCA Chief of Party Nic Richards said that cocoa is highly-suited to intercropping and mixed farming systems in the Philippines, and whose price has grown double over the last 18 months.

“The Philippines is well placed as future supplier of quality cocoa beans for local, regional and international trade markets. Some 100,000 hectares of cocoa producing 100,000 tons of cocoa by 2015, valued at US$300 million can be attained, and would position cocoa as one of the country’s top three agricultural sectors,” he concluded.

Cocoaphil is the umbrella organization in promoting integrated and sustained development of the cocoa industry by leveraging resources and providing services and assistance in continuing education, technology promotion and industry data.

For details, call 952-6397 or log on to www.cocoaphil.org.