THE Department of Agriculture - Davao Region intends to purchase 155,000 coffee seedlings for expanding their coffee plantations and another 95,000 seedlings for distribution in potential coffee-growing areas.
High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) focal Engr. Rublyn Gomez said this will be part of the Farmers and Industry Development Plan (FIDP) proposed for next year’s project of DA-Davao.
The said plan will also fund the rehabilitation of old trees and procure fertilizers.
“Actually ang proposal namo sa 2024 subject sa approval, naa to syay mga apil na mga rehabilitation of old trees so naa tay ipanghatag na fertilizer ato, around P8 million ang proposal,” Gomez said.
In an earlier report, DA-Davao industrial crops focal John Paul Matuginas said they will be allocating a P10-million budget, covering a 50 to 100-hectare expansion of coffee plantations in Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. The money will also cover farmer support with fertilizer, training, and planting materials.
This year's budget for Davao Region was merely P1 million, which was allotted for coffee farmer training.
“Ang problema gyud sa atong mga farmers is ang fertilizer, specifically, cost of fertilizer, high cost of inputs, bisag asa ka na crops mao na ang main issue nila” Gomez said.
Apart from soil rehabilitation, she stated that they are preparing coffee producers for the impending El Nio in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024.
Gomez said the DA-Davao is now collaborating with local government units to assess existing efforts and provide agri-water systems to regional coffee producers.
PSA data states Soccsksargen remained the country's top coffee producer, producing 3.15 thousand metric tons, or 33.4 percent of total coffee production for the quarter. Northern Mindanao came in second with 13.7 percent, followed by Davao Region with 12.3 percent.