DESPITE being dubbed as the country's cacao capital, Davao City still struggles in producing quality and fine cacao beans, said Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao (Cidami) president Val Turtur.
"Double time kami mag-educate sa mga farmers because marami namang cacao but the problem is kulang 'yung sa quality cacao. We are looking for quality [beans] kasi the price is much higher," Turtur said during the SM City Kapehan media forum Monday, August 19, 2019.
There are two kinds of cacao that are being sold to cacao processesors -- the ordinary cacao beans and fine cacao beans.
"What we are trying to develop is the fine [beans] because the price really is 30 to 50 percent higher than the ordinary," he said.
Turtur said the city, however, has no problem in terms of production volume of ordinary cacao beans yet in order to help farmers increase their income, there is a need to focus on producing fine cacao beans.
With the appointment of the new Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Turtur said the cacao stakeholders are hoping that he will also prioritize the cacao industry.
Dar will attend the Cacao Summit on Saturday, August 24, at Grand Regal Hotel where around 800 to 1,000 cacao farmers are expected to attend.
Turtur said they will be tackling the importance of producing quality cacao beans along with the need for more farmers' trainings, additional processors, and other facilities, among others.
"He will be coming here for the cacao summit. The secretary actually requested to have a cacao summit because he knows [when we say] cacao, it is really Davao," he said.