TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The two multi-million farm-to-market road projects funded by the World Bank under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) is seen to resuscitate the dwindling coffee industry in the province.
Kalinga is a recipient of P130 million fund for the 13 kilometer Banneng-Gombowoy farm-to-market road (FMR) in Tanudan and P180M 15.8-kilometer Bulanao-Amlao FMR.
Both projects are now on-going to improve road access to the province’s top coffee-producing barangays.
Recent findings of the Kalinga Coffee Council, however, had shown how coffee production had dropped due to several factors.
From the original 5,550-hectare coffee production area, only 3,427 hectares is left due to massive conversion of coffee lands into corn farms since 2014.
At good market condition, traders here buy a kilo of dry coffee beans at P85-95.
Now, host barangays of these PRDP projects are encouraged to revert to coffee production.
Department of Agriculture-CAR Director Lorenzo Caranguian disclosed there is high request by residents in these areas for coffee seedlings.
Provincial Agriculturist Domingo Bakilan added another indication of the province’s coffee industry getting revived is the intent of new sectors going into coffee production seeing the fresh support provided.
Because of the relatively distinct taste and aroma of the Kalinga coffee, there evolved the new line of business on coffee processing and now there are at least six brewed coffee processors in the province.
Trade and Industry Provincial Director Grace Baluyan reported products of local coffee processors are gaining shares in the local and national markets, and even abroad.
With the completion of the projects and approval of similar project proposals by the province and city LGUs, coffee industry is seen to become again a top source of living in Kalinga. (Larry Lopez/PIA-CAR)
