The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2, in collaboration with Cagayan Valley Cacao Industry Development Council, successfully held the two-day webinar on quality standards in cacao production and postharvest management on 21-22 July 2021 via Zoom that was attended by 102 cacao stakeholders.
This was held to capacitate the region’s cacao stakeholders with the knowledge along with the skills on the quality standards in cacao production, farm management, and post-harvest handling to increase farm productivity as well as improve the quality of cacao beans. DTI-R2 increased their efforts towards enhancing local cacao produce and turning it into fine-flavor cacao beans to sustain. Activities are also held to capture significant market share of fermented cacao beans and artisanal chocolate markets.
“Our success in producing quality-fermented beans and artisanal chocolate may be small, at this time, but this would surely create a ripple effect and influence other existing and new players to follow our industry direction. This will surely pave the way of making Cagayan Valley Region cacao enterprises become a major player in the cacao industry in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia,” said RD Leah Pulido Ocampo. She also urged the cacao stakeholders to produce quality cacao that would fit the standards of the local and global market. “We are optimistic that this webinar, together with the kits that will be distributed, will not only inspire our local partners to plant cacao, but it will also seal our commitment to produce high-quality fermented cacao beans,” added RD Ocampo.
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Operations and concurrent Regional Director Sancho Mabborang expressed his full support to the Cagayan Valley’s cacao industry as he mentioned possible innovations to be undertaken in the industry and the different assistances and projects of the agency. “DOST, in collaboration with Cagayan State University, established the cacao processing center at Lasam Campus. This center aims to conduct research & development (R&D) of new innovative cacao products,” he added.
Furthermore, resource speaker Louie D. Cena of Fardeco Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Cadalian, Davao City shared his expertise on quality standards in cacao production, farm management and post-harvest handling.
In addition, to ensure application of knowledge and skills gained from this webinar, selected participants will be provided by DTI-R2 with a business starter kit consisting of a wooden fermentation box, probe thermometer, refractometer, and UV plastic sheet. These kits will be complemented with 13 multi-Purpose portasol dryers from DOST-R2. ♦
Date of Release: 18 August 2021
