The local government of Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte has welcomed the development of coffee farming in the northernmost part of the province to generate more livelihood opportunities for farmers.
Through a proposed public and private partnership , the Ilocos Norte government, through the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) and a Philippine coffee development company, wants to revitalize coffee growing in Pagudpud’s lowland and hilly areas.
Having a favorable climate and soil condition, the ENRO has initiated the planting of coffee seedlings in previous years in support of the National Greening Program (NGP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Mayor Ferdinand T. Sales said Friday that several farmers cooperatives were tapped to plant coffee seedlings in Saguigui village and in a year’s time, the first batch of coffee seedlings will start to bear fruits.
“We hope this project will continue to boost the economic development of Pagudpud and to uplift the way of life of our people,” Sales said.
Early on, Senior Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc led the inspection of the coffee development site in Pagudpud town as he hopes the province can come up with its own brand of Ilocano coffee in the future.
According to Manotoc, the development of a coffee plantation is just an initial phase of the project until they can process and have their own finished product, even extending to retail and establishment of coffee shops.
He said the memorandum of agreement (MOA) is still being finalized, which may take some time to implement.
“This is not an overnight process – you plant and then wait. I think the soonest we can have our home-grown coffee is after two years more,” he said. (PNA)
