The DOLE, through its Integrated Livelihood Project (DILP), poured its support to sustain the bubbling opportunity for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and small time coffee growers in Negros Occidental.
The livelihood assistance came after the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) recognized Carmen’s Brew as a “fine” grade robusta coffee in a recent screening. Carmen’s Brew is made from coffee beans grown and processed in Brgy. Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental and is cultivated by Carmen Gonzales.
According to a press release, the recognition exposed the local coffee to the global market and opened more selling and pricing opportunities for the local coffee farmers. Due to its potential, Gonzales has found the need to find additional sources of raw materials to meet the market demands both locally and abroad.
To offset the projected deficiency in raw materials and to maintain its quality, DOLE regional office 6 through its Negros Occidental Field Office supported the livelihood assistance requested by the Tongo Integrated Farmers Association (TIFA), whose members had worked for and received a parcel of Gonzales’ land as beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
The land awarded to the beneficiaries previously owned by Gonzales is currently cultivated as a coffee bean, banana, and sweet potato plantation. Eight hectares are being used as a coffee bean plantation, yielding 24 tons of coffee annually; 115 hectares are being used as a banana and sweet potato plantation, producing 120 tons/hectare of banana and 125 tons/hectare of potato annually.
In order to continuously produce adequate supply for the market and to maintain quality, DOLE RO 6 through its Negros Occidental Field Office released P1 million for the “Integrated Processing of Coffee and Banana/Sweet Potato Chips Livelihood Project,” where the livelihood grant was utilized for the purchase of quality coffee beans and machines and equipment necessary for its production.
“This project aims to increase the income of the beneficiaries by adding value to their harvests, sustain self-employment opportunities, put up savings for the association to expand and venture out to other income generating projects, and to improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries,” said Regional Director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr., who closely monitored and directed the fast tracking of the project.
With DOLE assistance, the aroma of freshly ground coffee from the mountains of Himamaylan City will soon fill the air of coffee shops locally and abroad.*
