Staying true to its goal of helping achieve the target of the Philippine 2022 Cacao Challenge, the Capacitating Cocoa Farmers in Mindanao Project (CacaoPro) will be conducting two major activities in the second quarter of 2019—the launching of the Farmer Field School (FFS) and the construction of three post-harvest processing facilities. In preparation for these, ASSIST visited the project sites in the Davao region last 22 to 25 April.
Twenty CacaoPro-trained cocoa specialists attended the planning workshop for the launching of the FFS. Facilitated by the ASSIST Project Team, the workshop helped determine the launching dates of the said activity. The FFS is slated to commence on 21 May, and conclude on the first week of July.
A total of seven schools will be launched in the following barangays across the region:
– Subasta, Calinan District, Davao City;
– Poblacion, Bansalan, Davao del Sur;
– Magsaysay, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley;
– Banlag, Mongkayo, Compostela Valley;
– Sto. Nino, San Isidro, Davao del Norte;
– Poblacion, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; and
– Sta Emilia, Veruela, Agusan del Sur
Each of the sites will cater to at least seven local cocoa farmers who will undergo the 10-session training program of the FFS.
On-site meetings with three rural-based organizations (RBO) were conducted for the planning of the construction of the post-harvest processing facilities. Marking the start of the construction will be a groundbreaking ceremony to be held on the third week of May, alongside the first showcase forum and an educational visit.
The Mahalyang Salaysay Farmers’ Association (MASFA), Rural Improvement Club (RIC), and Nabunturan Integrated Cooperative (NICO) will be in charge of the facility’s operations and maintenance. Construction is expected to end by the second week of June.
The ASSIST Project team also visited the cocoa model farms in Davao Del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Davao City. Efforts to improve and increase site visibility are currently underway.
CacaoPro is a public-private partnership project under the DeveloPPP Program of KfW DEG, implemented by ASSIST, in partnership with Yara Fertilizers Philippines, Inc.
