CACAO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF MINDANAO

Linking Cocoa Industry Stakeholders for Sustainable Growth

ARMM to undertake revival of cacao

Last May 6-7, 2013, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM) hosted the 2013 Regional Farm Congress cum Achievement and Recognition with the theme: Repormang Agrikultura: Magsasaka at Mangingisda, Kayo and Bida . The two days activity was a gathering of over 200 farmers and fisher folks from the different municipalities and provinces of the region. Among others, Cacao was one of the highlighted commodities as priority to be promoted by the ARMM. Director Jalika Mangakop of High Value Crops Development Program, in her speech termed it the revival of Cacao in ARMM because accordingly, in the 1980s ARMM areas was once strong with cacao however most farmers cut their cacao trees due to lack of technology and market. Now, DAF-ARMM through the High Value Crops Development Program is ready to distribute 300,000 grafted seedlings to farmers and cooperatives in ARMM to revive the industry in the region. The region is also requesting support from CIDAMi to bring down the technology in ARMM to ensure the quality of farming and meet international market standard. Mr. Alimudin Mala, the Executive officer of CIDAMi presented the organizational profile of the CIDAMi, discussed the associations program and services and invited the farmers to become members and join the crusade of propagating cacao in Mindanao. Mr. Mala also presented the vision of the industry to achieve the 2020 Philippine cacao challenge of producing 100,000 metric tons, 50 75 millions trees planted by 2015 at 7 million seedlings per year. He also posed the challenge for ARRM stakeholders to propagate cacao for crop diversification especially in at least 150,000 hectares of land planted with coconut and doing the same in 67,500 hectares open areas where cacao is suitable. The orientation ended with an agreement for CIDAMi and Director Mangakop to conduct training orientation on Nursery Establishment and cacao production in June at the ARMMIARC with a commitment from DAF-ARMM to provide cacao seedlings to target beneficiaries.

AMYA House Tulip Drive corner Quimpo Boulevard Tel no. (082) 321-5589 Ecoland, Davao City 8000 Email: cidami.center@gmail.com

CACAO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF MINDANAO

Linking Cocoa Industry Stakeholders for Sustainable Growth

Region 12 supports aggressive establishment of Cacao nurseries

The Region 12 (SOCSARGEN), through the division on High Value Crop Development Program of the Department of Agriculture, spearheaded a capability building intervention on nursery establishment and cacao production last May 8, 2013 at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Davao City. Agriculture technicians had the opportunity for direct coordination with BPI in their quest for nursery accreditation and technology transfer on nursery establishment. These 30 beneficiaries/participants from the different municipalities has benefited from Region 12s aggressive efforts to support municipalities in establishment of nurseries to hasten cacao industry development. Each municipal agrarian office under the Region 12 program is supported through the distribution of free seedling as it pursues crop diversification and integration with other high value crops such as coconut, banana and rubber. Mr. Alimudin Mala, executive officer of CIDAMi presented the vision-mission of CIDAMi, its program and services and the benefits of potential members. Information on global and domestic markets was also presented. ARRM is poised to empower their farmers by pursuing this cacao campaign through the facilitation of technology transfer.

AMYA House Tulip Drive corner Quimpo Boulevard Tel no. (082) 321-5589 Ecoland, Davao City 8000 Email: cidami.center@gmail.com

CACAO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF MINDANAO

Linking Cocoa Industry Stakeholders for Sustainable Growth

AMYA House Tulip Drive corner Quimpo Boulevard Tel no. (082) 321-5589 Ecoland, Davao City 8000 Email: cidami.center@gmail.com