An official of the Department of Agriculture 11 (DA 11) reported on Friday that there was a slight decrease in cacao production in 2024.
Dr. John Paul Matuguinas, DA 11 Regional Cacao Focal, said in 2024, the production in Davao Region was 9,000 to 10,000 metric tons of cacao with the area of production being 36,000 to 50,000 hectares.
Matuguinas added that among the factors of the decrease in production were the prolonged dry spell caused by El Niño, the pests and diseases, and the farmers are not aware of the rejuvenation or rehabilitation of coffee or cacao.
“But still kana siya ginapunuan sa atoang government agencies like the DA sa paghatag ug assistance like sa pag-expand sa cacao production, nagahatag ta ug planting materials, fertilizers, trainings especially right now nga na ata’y programa sa DA nga Coconut Farmers Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) nga kaning mga coconut areas puwede nato na siya i-intercrop with cacao or coffee,” he said during the Agribiz Media Forum at SM Lanang Premier.
The CFIDP is a plan to improve the Philippine coconut industry. The plan includes programs to increase the income and productivity of coconut farmers and to modernize the industry.
Matuguinas said DA 11 continues to encourage the farmers to continue root crop diversification and intercropping to improve their income not only with one commodity but also with other commodities.
“Tuloy tuloy ang atoang paghatag ug serbisyo and interventions such as distribution of fertilizers, technology dissemination, and training so that it could really help our farmers to increase their productivity and income,” he said.
