Malaybalay City, Bukidnon — As a key stride to establish a resilient and sustainable coffee value chain in the country, Department of Agriculture Secretary, Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. underscored the need to embrace collaboration for collective action between the government and the private sector.

During the DA-Nestlé joint fertilizer turnover ceremony Tuesday, October 29, at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), Secretary Tiu Laurel stressed the call for collaborative efforts to enhance farmers’ resiliency and profitability in the face of myriad challenges besetting the agriculture sector, the climatic impact in foremost.

As support to coffee growers in Northern Mindanao, the DA chief together with DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan spearheaded the distribution of PhP6.5-million worth of fertilizer to 16 coffee farmers cooperatives, associations (FCAs) in the region. The fertilizer support is funded under the DA’s High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).

Aside from fertilizer subsidy, the DA has partnered with Nestlé through the Mindanao Robusta Coffee Project in conducting capacity building activities and research on integrated coffee nutrient management, establishment of integrated coffee centers, and providing logistics and marketing assistance to coffee growers in the region.

“As coffee consumption in the country and internationally continues to rise, and as the demand for this beverage becomes more bountiful, these multi-agency and sectoral partnerships are driven to the forefront. We look forward to much wider and more penetrating positive impacts of collaborative initiatives like these in the immediate future,” the DA chief said.

Concomitant with the goal to increase coffee farmers’ productivity, Secretary Tiu Laurel vowed the agency’s continued support for collaborative initiative in espousing regenerative agriculture through the adoption of sustainable farming practices, promotion of climate-resilient coffee production and innovative and nature-based solutions.

Grounded on Mindanao Robusta Coffee Project, the DA together with Nestlé is aiming to increase coffee farmers’ yield in the region to 1 metric ton per hectare by 2027. # (ATT/GDA, Photo credits: EJLG/BJCE)