This article I write focuses on the involvement of indigenous peoples on coffee production. It's interesting to know their participation and the industry sector's interests and plans of propagating the production of coffee. I am a coffee addict and drinks coffee be it brewed, latte, cappuccino ... it's a happy feeling when sipping a hot cup while writing.  Take a look at this article about Davao's coffee farm expansion project under private and public partnership. 

Davao Lumads to benefit from DA’s coffee farm expansion

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Davao’s target of some 1,200-hectare expansion of coffee farms will benefit mostly indigenous peoples (IPs) or Lumads in the region to be planted for both the Robusta and Arabica varieties.

Melanie Provido, head of DA Davao high value crops development program, said DA has a three-year program for Robusta coffee variety where the expansion program covers about 700 hectares.

On the other hand, Provido said the Arabica variety will be propagated to some 500 hectares in Davao City by Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee Company. The identified areas are in barangays Carmen, Calinan, Cebulan, Toril and in Salaysay, Tamayong and Marilog.

She said these are convergence areas of DA, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the provincial government headed by Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and the local government units (LGUs).

The area, she said is also in support to the program of the provincial LGUs to develop areas of indigenous people's (IPs) as well as support them (IPs) on their livelihood. Todate, about 500 hectares are now planted into this variety in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte.

Provido said included in the three-year program is also the setting up of common service area (CSA) where it provides post harvest facilities like dryer, coffee roaster and dehaulers which can serve areas of about 10 hectares. The CSA is facilitated through people's organization or farmers' association so that each farmer can have access the facilities.

The Robusta program is also in collaboration with Nestle Philippines as the company aside from marketing support where they put up a buying station in Tagum City also provides training to farmers on new technologies and other related concerns.

Provido said of the 100 percent requirement of the company, it only gets 27 to 30 percent from here and the 70 percent is imported from countries including Vietnam.

She said the company realized that instead of supporting farmers abroad as they buy their beans from them, they have partnered with DA and LGU for the propagation and developing of more coffee farms in the region.

Buying price of Robusta coffee is at P90 to P120 per kilo of the Class A type.

However, Provido said the reason coffee farms here cannot meet the demand is because of low production yield where on the average a hectare is supposed to yield at one ton, farmers' produce per hectare is only pegged at 600 kilos per hectare per year.

She said 70 percent of the coffee trees need rejuvenation as majority of these are about 35 to 40 years old. Poor production management and adaptation of new technologies are reasons that contribute to low production.

Meanwhile, the Arabica project is now being finalized with Rocky Mountain as they intend to develop some 100 hectares of coffee farms.

The DA, she said will match the coverage of the company by also targeting also the number of hectares that Rocky Mountain will develop.

Provido said Rocky Mountain will put in investments as well as processing facilities even as she said aside from providing the market with supply of raw materials, they also have plans of exporting the beans.

She said the company specified that it wants to invest in areas covered by IPs as they also would want to support the livelihood of farmers. (PNA)

LAP/Digna D. Banzon/ldp

Love that choco

- Leonidas luxury chocolate box L14.95


- Richart chocolate $120/lb


- Leonidas medium velvet heart - L18.50



Everybody loves that chocolate because it tastes good. It is sweet and melts down the tongue. But many are into grabbing now the dark ones because of an added benefit.

Studies showed there are health benefits from it but whether it is the taste or the benefit, I think we should also know what is it that we get from it.

Chocolates that are dark as preferred by people nowadays contains substances called phenylethylamine and seratonin, both of which are the mood elevators found naturally in the human brain. Moreover, according to Arthur Agatston, a Miami-based cardiologist and author of "The South Beach Diet," dark chocolate is also healthier, because it has a higher percentage of cocoa than milk chocolate does.

Agatston says cocoa contains flavanols, which may help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system by relaxing blood vessels and keeping cholesterol from building up in them — thus reducing the risk of blood clots — and by slowing down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries. It is also an antioxidant. “Flavanols seem to have an aspirin-like effect, helping improve vascular endothelial function and moderate inflammation,” says Agatston.

Other than that chocolate lovers dig to have one and they are happy to have chocolate in just about any shape or form. The market is clearly growing and chocolate makers continue to offer new ones that lovers are wanting to have.

But caution is still the rule of thumb and in moderation. You can love that chocolate but never to a non-stop eating of those sweets.

Coffee and you

When the news came out that drinking coffee can prevent some illnesses, I think all coffee lovers including me were so delighted to hear that and rejoiced perhaps that they are way ahead just like friends lovely and q who confessed they are coffee addicts.

An article that I came across pointed out of one wanting a drug which could lower their risk of Parkinson's disease, diabetes, as well as colon cancer. A substance which could lift ones mood and relieve headaches. A drug that could lower the risk of getting cavities. It said coffee appears to be that substance.

Studies indicate coffee reduces the risk for diabetes and Parkinson's

Some studies have shown that coffee may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. After analyzing data on 120,000 people over an 18-year period (1), researchers at Harvard have concluded that drinking 1 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee each day can reduce diabetes risk by several percentage points, compared with not drinking coffee at all.

Even more significant, is the fact that in this study, having 6 cups or more per day slashed men's risk by 54% and women's risk by 30% over those who avoided coffee. This study is the latest of hundreds of studies which suggest that coffee may be something of a health food - especially in higher amounts.

Around the globe the first thing that people do in the morning after doing their own rituals is grab a cup of coffee. Old and young alike these days love the bean that allow the mature ones a choice of brewed coffee or the young ones cold cappuccino or mocha java.

And whether one is in New York or in Davao City it is a lot easier nowadays to while away the time and relax in coffee shops because running a shop is thriving anywhere as lots of people turned coffee lovers too. I don't know if it is a trend but I learned loving it a long time ago.