TO PROMOTE better understanding on venturing into the cacao industry, a curriculum guide on cacao was handed over to the Department of Education (DepEd) to be part of the senior high curriculum program.
“Data would show that we have an aging farmer population which affects the productivity of our agricultural produce. That’s why we need young ones and it is has to start at the school level,” Valente Turtur, Cacao Industry and Development Association of Mindanao (Cidami) president and one of the authors of the curriculum, said during the Philippine Cacao and Chocolate Festival on October 18.
Turtur said through education the cacao industry also gets promoted as an important agricultural crop in the country.
“We crafted the module specific for cacao production from nursery establishment and management, to crop establishment, until to crop breeding and postharvest processing,” Turtur said.
He added that the cacao curriculum will serve as an elective course under the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood track for senior high school students.
“Hopefully, next year the cacao technology will also be part in the curriculum in teaching the senior high school students,” Turtur said.
Bureau of Curriculum Development of DepEd officer-in-charge Samuel Soliven said the curriculum was a collaborative effort both from the private sector and government agencies.
“We included the participation of Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, DTI (Department of Trade Industry), Ched (Commission on Higher Education), and DA (Department of Agriculture),” Soliven said.
“Though the program is for senior high school students, there might be a way that this education program can also be integrated especially in provinces where cacao is abundant,” Soliven said.
Soliven added DepEd will still go over with the turned-over curriculum guide to check on the efficiency in integrating this in the senior high program.