Agri group presents wish list for coffee, major farm products
The government is urged to invest billions in key high-value crops, including coffee, to support local farmers and boost the export of agricultural commodities that contribute millions of dollars to the economy.
In a statement on Monday, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (Pcafi) proposed earmarking P1 billion to build a coffee institute in Laguna or Cavite that would initiate research and development, and particularly look at new high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties.
It also recommended the opening of a P1-billion credit facility for coffee farmers, so that they can tap funding for various planting needs, from inputs to postharvest facilities.
The group also said the government should give a P500-million budget to the Department of Agriculture to plant 5 million coffee trees nationwide.
Pcafi suggested setting aside P500 million for the construction of a cooperative-operated instant coffee facility to produce locally grown and manufactured soluble coffee.
Additionally, the government was asked to allocate P500 million to establish a coffee trading post or hub in key producing regions. This is to facilitate easier logistics and provide farmers with necessary market support.
“We must aim to improve our yield per tree of coffee from 300 grams to 1 kilogram by providing training and new planting varieties,” Pcafi president Danilo Fausto said.
Aside from bolstering the coffee sector, the group also called on the Marcos administration to assign regional coffee focal persons to address various issues, as well as streamline the accreditation process of nurseries. By creating more market competition, fair pricing for government procurement is expected.
Furthermore, Pcafi suggested tapping P1 billion from the coconut levy funds to build a cacao institute, with a focus on using the right technologies and innovation for intercropping with coconut.
This was as last year’s supply crunch caused prices of coconut oil to hit record highs.
