Agri-10 turns over P8-million worth of cacao processing facility to MCCGAC to boost their cacao production, processing and marketing activities.

 

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – To provide additional support in the expansion of cacao in the locality, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turns over the P8-million cacao processing facility under the Cacao Community-Based Development Enterprise project to the City Local Government Unit (CLGU) of Malaybalay, on June 21, here.

DA-10 led by Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, and Agriculturist II Ronald Allan P. Camaddo handed over the certificate of turnover to Malaybalay mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran and Jerome N. Ramirez, MC Cacao Growers Agricultural Cooperative (MCCGAC) chair.

Camaddo shared that the project is funded under the agency’s High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) Regular Fund, which includes nursery establishment and planting materials, processing building, equipment, and administrative-related costs.

Included in the package of interventions are the provision of a P1-M processing facility, nursery establishment (P500K), solar dryer (P500K), hauling truck (P2-M), and P4-M for the roasting machine, huller, grinding machine, tempering machine, fermentation box, vacuum pack sealer, cooling rack, production table, moisture meter, grass cutter and 28,571 pieces of cacao seedlings.

Lopez added that the project signifies a great potential for the cacao industry to grow, at the same time increases the value of raw cacao beans through local processing, which benefits farmers and the community by boosting its profitability.

“I am very happy to those who have helped us. Dako kaayo kini nga tabang sa mga miyembro sa cooperative, mamahimo kaming malampuson pinaagi sa tabang sa ahensya ug sa lokal na gobyerno dinhi sa siyudad.” Ramirez said.

For his part, Mayor Pabillaran expressed his gratitude for the constant support of the DA-10 for the agricultural development of the farmers in the city and hopes that the project will aid in the marketing of cacao by obtaining a certified operating license to increase the facility’s credibility in the market.

Founded in 2017, MCCGAC is composed of 28 active members planting more than 50 hectares of cacao, and processing them into tablea for market in their locality.
Also present were the Department of Trade and Industry Bukidnon Provincial Director Famelah D. Villanueva, Department of Science and Technology-10 Bukidnon Provincial Director Ritchie Mae L. Guno, and other personnel from DA-10 and Malaybalay City Agriculture Office. # (MPMT)