Davao-based and non-profit organization Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao (CIDAMI) has expanded its focus to other agricultural commodities particularly high-value crops aside from cacao by rebranding as the Center for Innovation and Development in Agriculture for Mindanao (CIDAMI).
The former CIDAMI is composed of cacao farmers, nursery operators, cooperatives, traders/ exporters, processors, input providers, and academe. It also serves as a link between private and government, NGO, and cocoa stakeholders across Mindanao to facilitate the rapid development of the Philippine cocoa industry.
“Sa CIDAMI ga-evolve pud mi ug gibag-o namo. Ang CIDAMI is not just about the cacao industry, we will call this the Center for Innovation and Development in Agriculture for Mindanao that is the CIDAMI meaning now because we are trying to involve other agricultural commodities, not just cacao as we are rich in that, but of course, ang focus nato, diri since we started with cacao, cacao gihapon,” said Valente “Val” Turtur, executive director of CIDAMI, during the Kapehan sa Dabaw.
Meanwhile, Turtur shared that the cacao industry in Davao City was quite impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years.
“Wala’y mga malls nga nag-open and wala pud kaayo mga tao gasuroy especially during the pandemic kasi ma
