More than 200 coffee farmers of Davao de Oro will directly benefit the newly constructed community-based coffee processing facility located in the town of Maco.
The PhP 8 million processing facility was turned over by the Department of Agriculture XI on August 18 to the New Leyte Agricultural Cooperative (NLAC).
Other than the building, DA XI also provided coffee dryer, fertilizer, and coffee processing equipment like roasting machine, grinder, depulper, and dehuller.
The members of the cooperative also underwent trainings to utilize the processing plant.
Jeorge Omictin, NLAC chairman, thanked the whole government for providing assistance to them, which led to the realization of the facility.
“Kining programaha karon dako kaayo nig epekto sa among panginabuhi kay tungod momahal ang kantidad sa kape, dili pareho sa una nga barato ra kaayo. Dugang kini nga panginabuhian sa tao labi na gyud sa miyembro sa coop,” he said. (This program really has a big effect on our livelihood because the price of our coffee will now increase, unlike before that it is cheaper. This will really add income to our people especially to the members of the coop.)
In the data from the Provincial Agriculture Office, Davao de Oro has 2,759 coffee farmers tilling a total of 5,947 hectares of coffee plantation that produces more than 1,800 metric tons of green coffee beans yearly.
During the turn-over ceremony, the local government unit of Maco vows to continue its support for the development of the coffee industry in the province.
Former Maco Mayor and now Vice Mayor Alvera Veronica Rimando emphasized that the establishment of coffee facility is the victory of the coffee farmers not just in their town but in the whole province of Davao de Oro.
“Kadaugan ni nato nga mga farmers kay sa kadugayng panahon, naa na jud inyong gihandum. Aron mapahingusdan nato ang kaning coffee industry dili lang sa lungsod sa maco kung dili sa tibuok Davao de Oro.” (This is the victory of our farmers because finally in a long time, we have now what we have aspired for. This is to strengthen our coffee industry not just in the town of Maco but in the whole province of Davao de Oro.) (PIA-XI/Michael Uy)
