AKLAN, July 25, 2023 – Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Western Visayas conducted Coffee Production Technology Training for 30 coffee growers in the municipality of Buruanga, to foster good agricultural practices for better yield of coffee beans and to attain enterprising and commercial quality.

The training happened on June 23, 2023, in Buruanga, Aklan, led by Agriculturist II, Jairus Sirue of the DA Western Visayas sharing technical expertise and opportunities in coffee production and the current status of the coffee industry. Techniques for growing coffee, nursery and plantation establishment, plantation care and maintenance were introduced. 

Further, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for coffee production from pre-planting operations to obtain maximum yield up to postharvest handling, proper fertilization, harvesting methods, postharvest operations, equipment, and various marketing strategies were also discussed.

“It is best to have your soils analyzed before planting to check the soil’s pH and fertility status,” said Mr. Sirue.

Using wordplay on kape, he quoted “Sa KAPEgaduhon, dapat my KAPEsan” (In poor situations, there must be hard work), emphasizing the significance of hard work to uplift one’s livelihood, and the importance of cooperation and finding common ground within the coffee community to overcome obstacles and achieve shared goals.

Using the results of the Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA), regional implementers endorsed the project to the beneficiaries for the following reasons: (1) the members are existing coffee growers, (2) the group owns land suitable for coffee production, and (3) the group showed interest on said project and are eager to be guided on marketing their produce.

Under the FY 2023 Native Chicken and Coffee Production Project with a proposed total amount of Php 927,800, the group received various farm tools on May 18, including 60 sacks of inorganic fertilizer on May 19, and 2,500 coffee seedlings on June 14. 

These agri-interventions and training were among the components of the coffee production project intended for Phase 2 beneficiaries and part of the program’s efforts to support local agricultural development in Buruanga, Aklan.

As of present, the group has planted 350 seedlings in their 1-hectare (ha) communal area. The members met during the weekend to dagyaw or work together in the field and accomplished land preparation. The 650 seedlings left unplanted will be targeted for their two communal areas in the same barangay and the group expects harvest after 9 months, around April 2024. The native chicken stocks, however, are still under ongoing procurement and target delivery is around August this year.

Barangay Captain Dante E. Dominguez ended the session by expressing his gratitude to the SAAD Program. He thanked Mr. Sirue for sharing his knowledge and expertise during the training and acknowledged the fortunate opportunity for the group being beneficiaries of the SAAD Program Phase 2 in their municipality. 

The one-day activity was facilitated by Ms. Apple Joy C. Cobrador and Michael Deve C. Perez, Technical Staff of the SAAD Program, and staff from the local government unit of Buruanga. ###

Writer: Cedie C. Bataga, DA-SAAD Region 6 Information Officer