THE Department of Agriculture-Davao Region (DA-Davao) revealed that the region is the top producer of cacao in the Philippines, accounting for 80 percent of the country's total cacao production.
DA-Davao Information Officer Celso Vergara said in a radio interview earlier this week that based on the latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), cacao yielded a total of 8,024.02 volume of production in 2023 for the whole Davao Region and 8,031.97 in 2022.
"As far as unsay makita nato sa data sa Philippine Statistics Authority, 80 porsyento sa Cacao sa Pilipinas naggikan dinhi sa Davao Region. So karon, base sa PSA, sa tibuok Pilipinas naa ta'y na-produce nga cacao na 10,759 metric tons, ang 8,000 metric tons naggikan sa Region 11. So, tag dako jud kaayo tag kontribusyon”
(As far as what we can see in the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, 80 percent of the Cacao in the Philippines comes from the Davao Region. So now, based on the PSA, in the whole Philippines we have produced Cacao of 10,759 metric tons, the 8,000 metric tons came from Region 11. So, we have a big contribution) the official stated.
It has long been known that the Davao Region — which comprises Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao Occidental provinces — features a wide variety of agricultural products, including coconuts, pineapples, and bananas. However, with its production continually rising, cacao has become one of the most promising crops in recent years.
Growing premium cacao is made possible by the region's excellent climate, which includes regular rainfall and a wide temperature range. Local farmers have embraced cacao planting because they see it as a sustainable and lucrative alternative to other crops, especially in the provinces of Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte.
Through training initiatives, financial aid, and connections between farms and markets, government organizations like the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have taken the initiative to support cocoa growers.
Establishing processing facilities has also been made easier with the help of the Philippine Cacao Industry Development Association (PCIDA). DEF