CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) is hoping to establish a “mercato” or a market to properly establish the cacao industry and promote demand for products and related goods.
The move is a project of the Cacao Region III Council, co-chaired by KDF, Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry to help sell farmers' produce and other processed and manufactured goods direct to the consumers.
“We will showcase and sell cacao products which will help develop the industry,” KDF Trustee Sylvia Ordonez said.
As of now, only 400 hectares of land in Central Luzon is being planted with cacao.
In Pampanga alone, Governor Lilia Pineda has committed about 30,000 hectares for cacao plantation. Also, in the province of Aurora, 24,000 hectares are planted with coconut and can be intercropped with cacao.
Cacao is currently being projected as the next sunshine industry in the region and in Pampanga.
DA Undersecretary Evelyn Laviña had earlier said that the government is now identifying highly-capable farmers who can ensure that they can grow the plants as beneficiaries of the certified seedlings distributed by the agency.