70 hectares more coffee farms eyed in Western Visayas–DA
The Department of Agriculture 6 is seeking to expanding the coffee industry in Western Visayas next year.
DA 6 High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) coordinator Ma. Victoria Pacificador said the coffee industry is eyeing to develop an additional 70 hectares of coffee farmlands in the region.
She said coffee will soon be cultivated in an area of 24 hectares Iloilo, 18 hectares in Negros Occidental, 13 hectares in Antique, and five hectares each for the provinces of Aklan, Capiz and Guimaras.
The DA through the provincial HVCC coordinators is currently identifying the beneficiaries and farms for the expansion program. The beneficiaries will get free coffee seedlings starting early January.
Edna Alegre, DA focal person on coffee industry, said the coffee industry in the region must be fully marketed and cultivated considering the high price of coffee in the market.
She said coffee farmers must be supported by the local government units as the DA is offering free training and seminars on coffee cultivation.
Alegre said that coffee production is currently being improved in the towns of Barotac Viejo, Calinog, Dingle, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Passi City in Iloilo. There are also areas which produce coffee in Negros Occidental, she said.
The DA 6 is also urging farmers’ associations to consider coffee industry as a long-term alternative livelihood, aside from corn and rice , she added. *PNA
