THE Philippines is fortunate to have four varieties of commercially-viable coffee beans – Arabica, Liberica or Barako, Excelsa, and Robusta.
Despite our advantages, like geographical location and climatic condition, production of coffee beans in the country has declined.
To address this concern, the government and its partners collaborated to boost the country’s coffee production.
These efforts have been highlighted by the Philippine Coffee Industry Roadmap 2017-2022 which was signed by President Duterte in 2017.
It is expected to guarantee a cost-competitive coffee industry, meet global-quality standards, achieve a reliable and environment-friendly industry, provide sustainable benefits to its stakeholders, help attain food security, and alleviate poverty.
As part of this, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) funded the project dubbed “Enhancing Coffee Production in Sultan Kudarat.”
It is being implemented by the Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) under the leadership of Dr. Marissa Hitalia.
Under the project, the SKSU collaborates with the Department of Trade and Industry, DOST in Sultan Kudarat, and NESTLE Philippines.
Three major coffee-producing municipalities in the province of Sultan Kudarat are part of this project – the towns of Senator Ninoy Aquino, Kalamansig, and Lebak.
The project aims to increase coffee productivity of the farmer cooperators from 0.5-ton green beans to 1.5-ton green beans per hectare through the Science and Technology Community Based Farm, a technology transfer modality of the DOST-PCAARRD.
The project introduces key technologies in the whole coffee production chain, like the selection and use of high yielding clone, rejuvenation of old unproductive trees, proper fertilization of coffee plantations, and provision of all-weather dryer that will ensure high productivity and improved quality of coffee beans.
Through these technologies, the critical gaps in the production operations of coffee farmers in Sultan Kudarat, including in most coffee growing areas in the country, should be filled up.
The project also introduces advanced technological interventions in place of traditional methods to increase yields, and will replace poor-quality materials with superior ones.
To be able to achieve the desired outcome of increasing the productivity from 0.3 to 2.1 ton per hectare, the project will use quality planting materials, appropriate farm management and practices, and establishment of the clonal garden and massive propagation of coffee varieties in the nursery.
A total of 60 farmer cooperators or coffee growers will be capacitated in the production and marketing through on-site trainings and development, and distribution of IEC materials.
Adoption of recommended technologies in coffee production will be promoted.
At present, the DOST-PCAARRD has already invested almost ₱100 million in different Coffee R&D programs and projects.
With the help of its consortia, the DOST-PCAARRD has achieved its most recent exploits in terms of R&D initiatives − the establishment of coffee gene banks, the Philippine Coffee Quality Center in Cavite, cup profiles of Philippine coffee for export market; somatic embryogenesis for Liberica; identification of molecular markers for berry borer and scale insect, leaf blight and rust; and DNA-based varietal identification of Philippine coffee./PN
