Entry: Bill Guyton and Tracey Duffey
Today we were pleased to read the article on Philstar regarding sustainable cocoa-growing efforts in the Philippines. The Summit in Manila later this week on August 28th will be attended by World Cocoa Foundation member CocoaPhil along with other WCF member companies , USDA, and our long-time partner ACDI/VOCA who also works with the World Cocoa Foundation in Ecuador and Liberia. The Summit will explore the great potential for intercropping cocoa in coconut farms in several regions of the country.
Bright prospects for Philippine cocoa industry
(philstar.com) Updated August 23, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The country’s vibrant cocoa industry takes center stage as the Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines (Cocoaphil) and ACDI/VOCA hold the Philippine Cacao Summit on Aug. 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City.
According to Cocoaphil president Edward David, cocoa is undergoing resurgence, due largely to the Success Alliance Philippines Phase II program funded by the US Department of Agriculture and implemented by ACDI/VOCA and Cocoaphil.
With guests of honor US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, the event will discuss ways of strengthening the industry and meeting global demands.
There is vast potential for the expansion of cocoa, with more than two million hectares of coconut lands highly suited to inter-planting with cocoa. The global demand for cocoa beans grows at about 90,000 tons annually, and Southeast Asia would need an additional 220,000 tons.
The USDA-funded Success Alliance Phase II Program was launched in 2006 and has trained 150 trainers and 15,000 smallholder farmers in cocoa production, post-harvest processing, pest and disease management, and marketing through the farmer field school methodology and participatory extension methods.
ACDI-VOCA Chief of Party Nic Richards said that cocoa is highly-suited to intercropping and mixed farming systems in the Philippines, noting that the price of cocoa has doubled over the last 18 months.
“The Philippines is well placed as future supplier of quality cocoa beans for local, regional and international trade markets. Some 100,000 hectares of cocoa producing 100,000 tons of cocoa by 2015, valued at $300 million can be attained, and would position cocoa as one of the country’s top three agricultural products,” he concluded.
Cocoaphil is the umbrella organization promoting integrated and sustained development of the cocoa industry by leveraging resources and providing services and assistance in continuing education, technology promotion and industry data.
Comments (16)
the project is very intresting and it would nice to be involved in this kind of project,my problem is how to get involved
thanks
Posted by kingsley osang peters | August 26, 2009 6:25 AM
Posted on August 26, 2009 06:25
I am an investor looking for investment opportunities in the Cocoa industry in Philippines. I would like to know how much would be needed to invest and what kind of assistance can i receive from your organization. Also, do you welcome foreigners to invest?
Regards,
Peter Hwang
Posted by Peter Hwang | September 10, 2009 8:14 AM
Posted on September 10, 2009 08:14
we are looking for investors in cebu as we are
into developing a 6000 hectare intercropping with
coconut livelihood program. please google my two
articles cebu child investors attend cacao summit
and cebu c camps and child laborers for a brief
introduction of what we are aiming at.
for fuller details, do get in touch with me
through my email.
thanks
Posted by emmanuel l osorio | September 21, 2009 5:20 AM
Posted on September 21, 2009 05:20
We are looking for investors on our farm in the Cocoa Industry. Our family run operation covers 550 acres on the island of Leyte.
If you are interested, then please contact us at eco4fun@gmail.com
Sincerely
Rose
Posted by Rosafe Pasden | September 21, 2009 11:33 AM
Posted on September 21, 2009 11:33
We are looking for a partner whether local or foriegn to help us in the Cacao productions in Biliran Province. Any interested person can rerach us thru me or write directly to MARIPIPI CCV PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE, Ermita, Maripipi, Province of Biliran.
Posted by Atty. Bonz Mejarito | October 6, 2009 1:40 AM
Posted on October 6, 2009 01:40
Our cooperative is looking for a partner in our cacao industry in the province of Biliran. Initial project will cover the municipality of Maripipi covering a total of 1,800 hectares of cocoland. We lack techincal know how and financial capability in the production of more than a million seedlings in ten years time.. Any body whether local or foriegn who are interested in the project may reach us thru my email add.
Posted by Atty. Bonz Mejarito | October 6, 2009 1:47 AM
Posted on October 6, 2009 01:47
We are looking for a partner whether local or foriegn to help us in the Cacao productions in Biliran Province. Any interested person can reach us thru me or write directly to MARIPIPI CCV PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE, Ermita, Maripipi, Province of Biliran.
Posted by Atty. Bonz Mejarito | October 6, 2009 2:27 AM
Posted on October 6, 2009 02:27
I am the Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer of San Jose N. Samar. San Jose is an Agrarian reform Community assisted by the DAR. I would like our CARP beneficiaries to make their awarded lot particularly coconut areas become productive by intercropping with Cacao.however we lack planting materials,technical skills etc.,
N. Samar was not included in the SUCCESS project by the DA and COCOAPHIL. In my own landholdings I have started a demo farm using local cacao cultivars. Hope you can help our CARP beneficiaries
Posted by alberto T. miranda | December 1, 2009 5:48 PM
Posted on December 1, 2009 17:48
Hi, I am from the municipality of Lubuagan, Kalinga and I would like to help the people start a cocoa plantation. Our place is mountainous and has rich lands, our climate is not too hot nor too cold. But the people has lost interest in their lands because i think they don't have capital to start with and/or they are not yet educated or not aware of what they can invest in their lands. I have always been thinking of having a cocoa plantation since I was in college but I don't know how. And I was thinking maybe if I can start or someone in my family would start, then my fellowmen will be interested. I know it would be difficult to start but with your help and some of my friends, maybe we could give hope and confidence to our fellow Lubuaganians. Please give me some insights. Thank you and more power to you.
Posted by Louelba Mina | February 9, 2010 5:11 AM
Posted on February 9, 2010 05:11
Awesome, I finally discovered a blog about this! I was daydreaming about it yesterday (well technically night time dreaming because it was night time lol) and now I discover this post. Coincidence alright. Might be checking back again!
Posted by Marie Smith | March 5, 2010 7:59 PM
Posted on March 5, 2010 19:59
Seems that you are completely right!!11 I will quote this in my private forum to argue with people...
Posted by Tyson F. Gautreaux | March 15, 2010 11:47 AM
Posted on March 15, 2010 11:47
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Posted by Reggie Gouge | April 3, 2010 11:04 PM
Posted on April 3, 2010 23:04
I am interested to put up cocoa plantation here in leyte but the problem is, where I'm gonna find a good seeds for production?
Posted by Joel Payac | May 18, 2010 8:19 AM
Posted on May 18, 2010 08:19
GREETINGS!!!
I am the CEO of LONGSUD an NGO based in our town of Lopez, Quezon. Our group is interested in Cacao Production and we wanted to have linkage with other Organizations that could assist us (in terms of technikal assistance, market linkages, etc) to encourage our farmers to engage in cacao production.
THANK YOU and GOD BLESS
Posted by Menelieto A. Olanda | June 20, 2010 8:52 PM
Posted on June 20, 2010 20:52
this is great! we need more projects like this. i always here about ethical coffee bean growing, but there are so many other crops, including cocoa, that need our attention. keep up the good work.
Posted by promotional products | June 30, 2010 12:19 PM
Posted on June 30, 2010 12:19
HI!!!
We are an NGO based hare in Lopez,Quezon. Our group is interested to engaged in cocoa production since our members has their own coconut plantation which could easily be inter-cropted with cacao. Where could we get assistance to start propagation of cacao trees?
Thanks.
Very truly yours,
Menelieto A. Olanda
Vice-Chairman & CEO of LONGSUD
Posted by LONGSUD | July 3, 2010 7:44 PM
Posted on July 3, 2010 19:44