Stakeholders discuss cacao trends and updates in forum

CEBU, Philippines - A forum on sustainable cacao, organized by the Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (CocoaPhil), together with the Department of Agriculture through its High Value Commercial Crops Program, is scheduled today for stakeholders in the Visayas at the Crown Regency Hotel and Towers from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CocoaPhil President Edward David said that the regional forum is intended to equip industry players and farmers with the updates, innovations and improvements on cacao farming to promote competitiveness in the world market and to be at par in quality of cacao products with other countries.

It will tackle new trends in the world cocoa market, prospects of local cacao industry, past and recent interventions of CocoaPhil on cacao production and post-harvest operations, credit facilities for cacao farming, and insurance facilities for cacao farmers.

The forum will discuss the bio-intensive cacao farming system, technological support for upgrading of local cacao and cocoa industry, traceability program for Philippine cacao, and the value chain of cacao from the planting of cacao to the processing of beans and the manufacturing of its finished products such as tablea. 

It will also involve a farmer’s testimony from venturing into cacao farming and the statement of commitments from stakeholders. 

Speakers during the event will include officials and representatives from Cocoa Association of Asia, ADM Cocoa Asia, Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., and Balik Scientist of the Department of Science and Technology. 

David said in an interview that the Philippine tablea, also known as choco liquor, has an advantage in the global market as it is 100% pure and made from quality cacao beans. 

“Visayas can be a major producer for cacao and manufacturer of cacao products such as tablea. It’s one product that Filipinos can be proud of. What we hope to achieve is to be top in terms of quality and competitiveness,” he told The FREEMAN. 

To date, David cited that the Philippines has an estimate of 6 million cacao trees owned and planted by independent, private and CocoaPhil members.

CocoaPhil and other concerned agencies have crafted a cacao roadmap that aims to plant 50 million cacao trees by year 2020 and will eventually produce less than 100,000 tons of cacao beans every year.

David encouraged owners of idle lands and farmers particularly those under land reforms to practice intercropping  procedure. 

For instance, farmers could plant cacao in between their coconut trees to add revenues and learn to plant other crops to properly utilize their already-developed areas.  

A farmer could plant 5 to 7 cacao trees per hectare and eventually earn P60,000 to P80,000 a year from an average of 2 to 5 kilos of dried cacao beans produced per tree along with other ensurable crops, David said.

He also suggested the rehabilitation of cacao trees in Toledo and orientation of the public on how to plant cacao in their respective lands.

Recently, the Department of Science and Technology has agreed to fund projects helping the post-harvest centers of cacao beans. 

The second biggest project of the agency that costs P34 million will also be introduced during the one-day forum.  (FREEMAN)