The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it wants to work with the coffee industry to improve crop yields and climate adaptability.
“We must rely on multi-stakeholder partnerships to build resilient and sustainable coffee value chains that support growers,” said Secretary of Agriculture Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. in a statement on Tuesday.
He noted that the coffee yield improvement program is being implemented by Nestlé SA, the German government and the DA.
The DA said the project targets a coffee yield of 2 tonnes (MT) per hectare by 2025.
The program has resulted in the growth of coffee communities in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat, now with 3,000 members.
“This collaboration has resulted in better bean quality and a higher average yield of up to 0.8 tonnes per hectare, compared to a low of 0.3 tonnes. As a result, farmer incomes have increased by 35% or more in some areas,” Mr Laurel said.
According to the Philippine Coffee Board, the Philippines produced 30,000 tons of green coffee beans in 2023, slightly more than a year earlier.
The DA has distributed P6.5 million in aid, including fertilizer and financing for setting up coffee centers, to 16 farmer groups participating in the Mindanao Coffee Robusta Project. — Adrian H. Halili