Cebu eyed as majorcacao seed supplier

CEBU, Philippines - Dutch company Kennemer Foods International, Inc. (KFII) is considering Cebu as a major supplier of cacao seeds for its chocolate products.

KFII President Simon Bakker met with Cebu officials to discuss their partnership for cacao plantation utilizing around 20,000 hectares of land.

Present during the meeting were Governor Hilario Davide III, Cebu second district Rep. Wilfredo Caminero, Cebu City south district Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa, Coop-NATCCO Partylist Rep. Crecente Paez, and others. 

Bakker said they will provide technology and planting materials such as the high-value and pest resistant cacao seedlings to farmers to be organized by the provincial government.

"Our objective is to buy the seeds," Bakker said.

Davide is set to issue an Executive Order creating a technical working group to identify areas suitable for cacao plantation.

Areas initially identified are public lands where the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has national greening project, and coconut and banana plantations

"Sure fire ni nga programa, guaranteed ang market, so we will mobilize ang mga farmers sa probinsiya sa Sugbo nga mananum mo og cacao," Paez said.

Paez said that in Davao where the company also operates, a farmer earns a minimum of  P5,000 per week and maximum of  P 30,000 per week.

He said that the national government, through the Philippine Coconut Authority, DENR, Department of Agriculture and Land Bank of the Philippines, has the funding to support the program.

Expressing support to the program, Caminero said he will personally avail of the program.

"Any investment leading to development of  our agricultural sector, we will always give them a chance," Caminero said.

Davide is set to call for another meeting next week with the technical working group.  (FREEMAN)