MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coffee Board and the Department of Agriculture culminated its National Coffee Tree Planting Roadshow in Mendez, Cavite last Sept 3. The Roadshow started in Bukidnon, Iloilo and Benguet in July.
The coffee tree planting in Mendez was attended by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and officials of the private sector-led Philippine Coffee Board.
“Cavite remains the second largest coffee-producing area in the country,” said Pacita Juan, Coffee Board co-chair. “It is appropriate for the Coffee Board to recognize its role in expanding areas devoted to coffee farming by holding our culminating activity here.”
“The Cavite coffee farmers have awakened and returned to their farms and have joined our nationwide ‘Pilipinas! Gising at Magkape’ (Wake Up and Drink Coffee!) program with the Department of Agriculture,” said Alejandro Mojica, South Luzon area director and trustee of the Coffee Board.
“We have fully rehabilitated our coffee farms in Upland Cavite and many more want to continue planting coffee,” added Rene Tongson, former councilor of Amadeo, Cavite and area director for Central Luzon for the project.
The Department of Agriculture has provided a seed grant to the Philippine Coffee Board to address the shortage in supply of coffee amounting to about 35,000 MT per year, so that we have to import from Indonesia and Vietnam. The Coffee Board started rejuvenation and rehabilitation programs in January 2009 and expects to continue its influence on the growing production of coffee, which fell to a low of 23,000 MT but has since increased to 30,000 MT over the last few years. The production level is still 35,000 MT short of domestic consumption placed at 65, 000 MT and growing annually by about 2.5 percent.
Many investors are considering coffee farming as a new investment due to the continued rise in demand for Philippine coffee. The Philippines has 22 coffee growing provinces.