THE Philippine Coffee Board, Inc. (PCBI) said at least P6 billion will be needed over 10 years to upgrade coffee production to self-sufficiency levels.

In a briefing on Monday, Pacita U. Juan, president and co-chair of PCBI, said that the government must work towards building up capacity on a staggered basis.

“The government has to spend P600 million a year in 10 years to get to self-sufficiency. But those are very conservative figures because you can do maybe more than 1,000 seedlings per hectare,” Ms. Juan said. 

PCBI estimates that the coffee industry produces 30,000-33,000 metric tons (MT) a year, well short of estimated demand of 150,000-200,000 MT.

The PCBI said that it is currently exploring a partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) for a coffee intercropping program within coconut farms.

Alejandro C. Mojica, a director at PCBI, said that the board is currently in talks with the PCA for the potential partnership.

“If we partner with PCA, it will be easier for us to locate the hectares that the coffee industry needs,” Mr. Mojica said. “According to the PCA, they have readily available one million hectares.”

The PCBI said that the industry needs 171,428 hectares to service coffee demand, assuming that each hectare produces 700 kilograms of coffee.

Ms. Juan said a model pilot farm for intercropping could be built by June.

“We want the PCA to consider us because they have the budget. We can help them (with their own objectives),” Mr. Mojica said.

The PCA is tasked with improving coconut farmer livelihoods and has access to a trust fund built up from recovered coconut levy assets.

An intercropping program would put the PCBI in a technical-assistance and marketing-support role.

Mr. Mojica said the main constraint for the coffee industry is seedlings, which is why the PCBI is proposing that each region build a nursery.

The PCBI said that around 120 million seedlings are needed, at a unit cost of P50 if the nurseries are to earn a suitable profits. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

THE National Dairy Authority (NDA) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) said they have identified five ancestral domains which could host farms for dairy animals.

In a statement, the NDA said that the parties signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday outlining the terms of their partnership.

“The main objective of the agreement is to introduce dairy animal production to indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) that will result in socio-economic development and poverty alleviation,” the NDA said.

The proposed stock farms will help raise the numbers of dairy cattle, dairy carabao, and dairy goats.

The ancestral domains are in Tanay, Rizal; San Isidro, Antipolo City; Pangasinan; Marilog, Davao; and Malitbog, Bukidnon.

“The commission gladly accepted the partnership for it will enhance the well-being of our ICCs and indigenous peoples (IPs) on matters related to income generation and economic opportunities resulting in a better quality of life for their families,” the NCIP said.

Rowena E. Bautista, NDA operations manager, said that the NDA hopes to achieve 5% milk sufficiency by 2028.

“We firmly believe that collaboration between government agencies is essential for our nation to achieve food sufficiency,” she added. “It is imperative that we combine our resources and expertise for the greater good of our country.”

IPs, who will be provided with training in dairy farm management, will be hired as workers in the stock farms.

“This not only offers livelihood opportunities but also supports NDA’s goal of increasing milk sufficiency through operational expansion,” the NDA said.

The NDA also committed to conduct training to future farmworkers, who will receive certificates upon completion of their courses. — Justine Irish D. Tabile