|
KIBUNGAN, Benguet:
This town, the biggest producer of chayote, or sayote, has
opted for native Arabica coffee as its contribution to the
government’s “one town-one product” program.
Town officials led by Mayor
Benito Siadto on Thursday told
reporters during the Kapihan sa Benguet forum that around 42, 000
new coffee trees were planted by around 520 local growers.
Siadto expressed optimism that Arabica coffee trees will
thrive well in the villages of Sagpat, Badeo, Poblacion and Palina.
He said old coffee trees are producing well.
To ensure sustained production of Arabica coffee in over three
to four years, the mayor and the other town officials said
local-government personnel and outside experts are coming up with a
coffee-development plan for the municipality.
Siadto announced that a nursery
for Arabica coffee had been set up.
He said many roads leading to
remote villages in Kibungan that are potential sites for Arabica
coffee production need urgent repair for the town to propel its
chosen primary crop. Opening of new roads leading to such sites,
Siadto added, will also push production.
The Department of Industry has
inspected possible planting sites for Arabica coffee. Under
the one-town, one product program, the department will support
micro, small and medium enterprises to manufacture, offer and market
distinctive products or services through the use of indigenous raw
materials and local skills and talents.
With Arabica coffee as its primary product, Kibungan is seen
to need attention from the Cordillera Regional Arabica Coffee
Council, which is aiming to make the whole Cordillera region as the
country’s Arabica coffee capital.
Cordillera is said to have a
total of 14,417 coffee growers and a total of 2,147.77 hectares of
land planted to Arabica coffee. In 2007, the growers harvested a
total of 1,675.23 tons.
Mountain Province had the highest production with 876.80
metric tons, with 1,096.4 hectares of plantation maintained by 1,818
growers. Benguet harvested a
total of 562.86 metric tons from 642.49 hectares. It had a total of
10,733 growers.
 --Harley
F. Palangchao
|
