DA turns over 2M worth of coffee processing facility in Tagbina town
TAGBINA, Surigao del Sur – The Two Million worth of coffee processing facility was turned over by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga to San Nicolas Development Cooperative in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur on June 9, 2022.
The said project was funded by the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP). Eight hundred thousand of the fund was intended for the building construction. While the remaining Php1.2 Million was for the purchase of facilities including the dryer.
The said cooperative is composed mostly of women based in San Nicolas, DoΓ±a Carmen, Tagbina, town. The members were grateful as they received their most awaited request, a coffee roasting facility.
DA Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca Reyes Atega, expressed optimism that the facility will enhance the livelihood through coffee processing motivated by the members' passion of the product. “These coffee farmers aim to develop the best aroma from the Arabica coffee harvested through proper roasting techniques,” she said.
.DA-Caraga Regional Director Engr. Ricardo M. OΓ±ate, Jr urged the association to look beyond and extend help to other farmers through consolidation. “Nowadays, we need to have an economy of scale through consolidation of products for better market advantage, so more farmers will be encouraged to plant more coffee to support the DA’s Plant Plant Plant Program or Agri4Ps,” he noted.
On the other hand, High-Value Crops Development Program Regional Coordinator Marco Antonio Morido, emphasized to the farmers that they need to follow the right technology for coffee production to maintain a high quality of produce. “As we are urging our coffee farmers to follow the right technology, we at DA-Caraga is also embarking on a production enhancement through rehabilitation, rejuvenation, and fertilization of the coffee farms in the region,” he said.
Morido added that they are working with local government units to help boost the coffee industry in their respective locality.
Based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, the volume of production of coffee in the region is recorded at 1,622.24 metric tons wherein the province of Surigao del Sur has an 85% contribution to the production.
Other officials who graced the occasion were Tagbina Municipal Mayor Generoso L. Naraiso, Provincial Agriculturist Marcos M. Quico, Municipal Agriculturist Warlito D. Untua , officials from DTI Provincial Director Romel Oribe, CDA, and other partner stakeholders. (NGPB/DA-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
