Aquino commits to assist coffee industry

Friday, February 24, 2012

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III renewed on Friday his commitment to help the agriculture sector particularly those in the coffee production industry.

The President, in an interview in Trece Martires, Cavite, said his administration is committed to assist the country’s farmers in improving their lives through the help of different government agencies.

At the start of his administration, Aquino said he talked to officials of Nestle Philippines, who said the company uses 80 percent imported coffee to produce coffee products.

The Philippines only supplies 20 percent of Nestle's demand, he said.

"So the government’s goal is to reverse the figure," he said, noting they target to fill the 80-percent that Nestle needs and help local coffee growers.

He added that at least two other countries expressed their interests in sourcing coffee from the Philippines.

Among the support being extended to coffee, as well as cocoa farmers are training, provision of seeds and financial assistance such as loan packages, the President said. The government is already addressing red tape in the bureaucracy so that farmers would have easier access to government loans, he said.

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Science and Technology have been assisting farmers in producing organic fertilizer and effectively control pest and diseases that affect coffee and cocoa to produce high quality products, the chief executive added. (SDR/Sunnex)