DTI Sultan Kudarat RAPID Growth Project, in collaboration with the Coffee Heritage Project, facilitated the training on Good Agricultural Practices for Coffee Farm Establishment and Maintenance last 5 – 8 July 2022.

A total of 57 coffee farmers from various farm organizations, including the Kulaman Manobo Dulangan Organization, the Premium Coffee Farmers Enterprise, and the Kalamansig Farmers Agricultural Development and Marketing Association, were trained and gained practical experience in methodologies for planting coffee on sloping agricultural land, farm management, and integrated pest and disease management.

Through the farmer’s field school, participants improved their knowledge and skills in major activities of coffee farming.

A series of farm visits and coaching sessions were conducted to eight farm sites of identified farmer groups in Sen. Ninoy Aquino and Kalamansig.

These coffee farms were ideal for natural farming and organic farming; hence, several recommendations were made for the improvement of the identified parcels.

The resource persons for the said activity were from the Coffee Heritage Project headed by CPH Director, Mr. Rich Watanabe, together with Mr. Jerome San Juan, a technical coffee expert, and Ana Abasolo, soils scientist.

Initially, CPH purchased GCB produced by several farmers. This was part of the advocacy of promoting the coffee farmer’s organization through the Kapetolyo SGD Coffee Shop.

DTI Sultan Kudarat Provincial Director Felisa A. Sinobago added that the agency will continue to strengthen partnerships with NGOs and MSMEs, ultimately for the benefit of the industry not only in the province but also for the whole region. ♦

Date of Release: 17 August 2022