The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently turned over post-harvest equipment worth P1.5 million to small cacao enterprises and cooperatives in different parts of Mindanao.
The turnover of the facilities was held during the seminar and workshop on “Cacao Bean Grading Assessment” by the USDA here through the initiative of Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI-VOCA), a non-profit private, international development nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.
ACDI-VOCA chief of party Nic Richards said there were 25 participants who represented their respective cooperatives.
He said 10 cooperatives each received a toolbox with weighing balance, bean cutter, moisture meter and other tools inside, intended for bean grading.
These were Lamitan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (LARBECO) from Lamitan in Basilan; Chokolate de San Isidro Inc. in San Isidro, Davao del Norte; Mayo Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (MAGREBEMCO) in Mayo, Mati Davao Oriental; Malita Rural Workers Agrarian Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MARWABEMCO) in Lacaron, Malita, Davao del Sur; PCEC Kumasie Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association Inc. Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Basawan, Sta. Maria, Davao del Sur; Malabog Integrated Enterprises Development (MIEDECO) in Malabog, Davao City; Southern Davao Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SDMC) in Basaiwan, Sta. Maria Davao del Sur; Farmers Development Cooperative (FARDECO) in Cadalian, Davao City; Tawan-Tawan Multi Purpose cooperative in Maligatong, Tawan-Tawan, Davao City; Subasta Integrated farmers Multi Purpose Cooperative in Calinan District, Davao City.
Richards said the seminar and workshop aimed to train the farmers in determining the grade of their own beans according to class, based on the Philippine Cocoa Bean Quality Standards.
Another output of the hands-on-seminar was the formulation of an action plan by each of the cooperative to use the toolkits for their farmers’ cocoa beans, he said.
During the workshop, he said ACDI-VOCA staff showed a presentation on correct cultural practices and post harvest handling on cacao as a requisite of quality bean.
Richards also cited some highlights of Value Chain Approach, wherein small farmers can link to the local, national and even to international buyers and demonstrated the correct bean grading procedure and its analysis.
The ACDI-VOCA Philippines hopes that through these USDA grants given to the farmers, will help them and their constituents to promote quality bean production that can compete in the national and international market, he added. [PNA]
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