Cacao and coffee farmers in the Davao Region were assured support from the Office of the Presidential Assistance for Eastern Mindanao (OPAMINE).
Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Tereso Magno presented to cacao and coffee farmers on how the national government could help the cacao and coffee producers improve its production as demand for the two products increases not just in the country but internationally as well.
In his consultation with stakeholders during the Coffee and Cacao Experience held on October 11, 2023 at the Seda Abreeza , Magno said that cacao and coffee farmers produce 20,000 metric tons per annum, which is way below the demand of about 120,000 metric tons from Filipino drinkers.
“The Philippines is number one coffee drinker in Asia and number four in the world. But we still lack coffee plantations here in the Philippines. We only produce 20,000 metric tons per annum but Filipinos drink 120,000 metric tons per annum. This industry needs support not only from the private sector but from the government side as well,” he said.
Magno hopes to find common ground with the coffee and cacao farmers to help the industry.
He said he is set to have a meeting with the cacao and coffee farmers to talk about how the government can help the industry.
“Hopefully we can find a common ground to make sure that this industry will continue to grow,” Magno said.
The Coffee and Cacao Experience was participated by Hid’n Coffee, Kapewenoz, Glasshouse Coffee, Paramount Coffee, Gulf Coast Coffee and Co., FrogKaffee Arena, Cacao Culture, Malagos Chocolates, Auro Chocolate, MS3, Cacao City, and Object Depot.
The event is among the highlights of the Davao Food and Wine Festival, which is a week-long activity highlighting the culture and cuisine of Davao and Samal Island, that runs from October 7 to 14, 2023.
