DA-7 provides “Package of Technology” seminar to cacao farmers in Negros Oriental

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

NEGROS ORIENTAL – The Department of Agriculture (DA-7)-Central Visayas provided “Package of Technology” (POT) seminar to 30 cacao farmers in Valencia, Negros Oriental to equip them with knowledge and skills in planting cacao, improve production, by-products and livelihood income from cacao.

DA-7 High Value Crops Program Action Officer Mary Ronville Aba said that POT is includes cultural management, best cacao farming practices and costs and returns of cacao farming.

"The cacao farmers underwent practicum skills on actual pruning of unnecessary branches and to add more enthusiasm to the trainees, we invited a French investor who will directly buy the cacao beans of the farmers assuring them of market," Aba said.

French investor Nicolas Astarie shared his thoughts that he wanted to work with cacao farmers for his chocolate-making business.

"I will personally train our cacao farmers for them to be able to produce quality cacao beans. Cacao is a high value crop so if it is properly taken care of there will be big revenue," Astarie said.

Jorge Buling, a cacao farmer of Barangay Bung-aw Valencia who owns a 2-hectare cacao area said that the seminar was very informative.

“Daghan kaayo ko og nakat-unan sa among bansaybansay karon, ug amo gyud kining i-apply unya sa among mga cacao nga tanum," Buling said. (I learned a lot from the training, and I will apply these (learning) in my cacao farm).

Hilaria Olasiman, also a cacao farmer from Barangay Malaunay Valencia was grateful for the seminar and that she is one of the participants.

"Nagtubo gyud ko sa pagpananom ug cacao pero among abot pangtableya ra, dili pangchocolate, karon nga nadugangan ang akong kahibalo sa pagpananom ug quality nga cacao ug naa napo’y direct buyer mas ganado na jud kong mutanom," Olasiman said.

(I grew up with cacao farming, but our production is only for tableya and not for chocolate. Now that I gained additional knowledge on growing quality cacao and now that there is a direct buyer, I am motivated to plant more cacao.)

"I have a half hectare of cacao area and have been into cacao farming for almost 10 years but was discouraged to continue farming when my cacao trees were infested with pod rot. Now that I attended this seminar and gained knowledge on how to control and prevent pest and diseases, I will rehabilitate my cacao trees and continue what I have started 10 years ago. Also, we now have a ready market for our cacao beans," said Corsena Montesor of Barangay Apolong, Valencia.

The training program is mandated under Republic Act 7900 or the High-Value Crops Development Act of 1995 that aids with production, marketing, and processing of cacao and other high-value crops. (Photos: Google Files)