DTI is all in on Bukidnon coffee industry

THE FOOD BASKET OF MINDANAO continues to live up to its name.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is seeing great potential in the coffee industry in Bukidnon–a province primarily known as a major producer of rice and corn in the country.

The introduction of new technology and increase in productivity were cited as the main reasons why DTI and other players are optimistic. Coffee is also one of DTI’s priority clusters which included cacao, coconut, bamboo, housewares and decors, processed fruits, nuts, and rubber among others. The department even recently introduced the Bukidnon coffee brands that came from the different municipalities of the province.

DTI-Bukidnon provincial director Ermedio Abang shared DTI’s mission in regards to the growing coffee industry:

“The Philippine Coffee Industry is envisioned to be self-sufficient with a significant share in the export market. DTI’s mission with respect to the coffee industry is to increase productivity of all players in the value chain; and to make it self-sufficient and globally competitive,” he said.

The 100 coffee farmers of Bukidnon are mostly composed of members of Indigenous People’s communities. As of now, the province only has some 2,000 hectares of cultivated land for coffee located in the highlands, but more than 9,000 hectares have already been set aside for the planned expansion.

Other agencies are working together with DTI to boost the development of the coffee industry in Bukidnon. The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will provide assistance by introducing the plantation and post-harvest technology, improving processing performance, enhancing promotion and marketing, and providing conducive business environment.

The DTI will also be involved in creating a sustainable business environment with coffee business opportunity and investment promotion, improving coffee operators’ financial access, and fully developing research and coffee technology solutions.

Additionally, the department will implement a Brand Equity Development Program to help establish a brand name that will be used by the coffee processors.

“Dunay mas daghan nga opportunidad og ma-market nato ang ilang produkto kung duna na silay atong gitawag nga effective brand sa coffee (There will be more opportunities and we can easily market their products if they have this so called effective coffee brand),” Abang said.

The Brand Equity Development Program has the following components: Brand Appreciation Training Workshop, Product Development, Marketing (Trade Fair and Launching), and Advertising and Communications.

DOLE, DA, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and non-government organizations like ACDI/Voca have already provided additional processing equipment to keep up with the increase in coffee processors. The number of farmers should also be increased so both the DA and the local government conducted investment opportunities seminar in cacao and coffee.

Robusta and Arabica are the dominant coffee varieties grown in Bukidnon. The province also 16 major coffee processors and two quality-graders/cuppers. A cupping laboratory is located in Central Mindanao University.

Two organizations from Bukidnon have emerged as winners in the First Philippine Green Coffee Cupping Competition held early this year in Cavite State University: the Inhandig Tribal Multi-Purpose Cooperative for the Arabica Category and Kape Maramag for the Robusta Category.

“We are launching 14 individual coffee brands and one Provincial brand of Bukidnon coffee which were developed through our Brand Equity Development Program, under the promotion and marketing enhancement strategy of which the objective is to enhance business opportunity and marketability of our coffee, products through effective brands, other greater product value, and sustained income,” Abang said.

Here’s the complete list of the 14 individual coffee brands: Cafe Corazon; Highland Robusta; Cafe Rogelio; Arabica Filipina; Cafe Mabuhay; Twin Creek Coffee; Kapeyapaan; Monk’s Blend; Hineleban Coffee; Cafe Hermano; Cincona Coffee; 7 Tribes Coffee; Cafe Rico; and Kitanglad Brew.

via SunStar / Jo Ann Sablad, Butch D. Energio