BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Coffee production in Negros Occidental is expected to get a boost from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz yesterday said that an inventory has been conducted on areas planted with coffee and its production as part of the commodity development plans of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture and the Provincial Environment and Management Office.
Diaz said they have found out that only eight metric tons of coffee are harvested annually in an area of 8,000 hectares should produce 90 metric tons.
With this development, Diaz said they are planning to rejuvenate those areas by planting new material with the robusta variety, which he expects to become the trademark of Negros coffee, with branding also being studied.
An initial budget of P16 million from the OPA is being earmarked for such purpose, which will be sourced out from the 20 Percent Development Fund, Diaz said.
Some of the coffee plantations are located in protected areas, which is allowed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as part of its Greening Program.
Diaz, however, they noted that some coffee plants no longer productive because of age, as they require pruning.
Why not go down into the marginal lands, which are not being used. Maybe the land is good with the new stocks to be used, which could be productive in three to five years, he said, adding that it could be easily maintained.
Let’s strategize, rethink what to do, so that the 90MT yield will be hit in the next three years, he added.
The 8,000 hectares planted with coffee are operated by non-government and people’s organizations with SAPA (Special Agreement on Protected Area) in La Castellana and the cities of Cadiz, La Carlota and Sipalay.*
