The Department of Agriculture (DA) is advocating for increased public-private partnerships to bolster the coffee industry in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the importance of collaboration between government entities, the private sector, and farmers’ cooperatives to combat climate change and enhance local competitiveness in coffee production.
“Embracing collaboration for collective action to enhance farmers’ resilience and profitability is essential,” Tiu Laurel said during a visit to the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex, which houses Nestlé Philippines’ Bukidnon Integrated Coffee Center. He noted the partnership is crucial for addressing current challenges while capitalizing on the growing local market demand for coffee.
The DA highlighted its partnership with Nestlé on the Mindanao Coffee Robusta Project, which has successfully doubled the number of coffee-growing communities in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat to 3,000. This initiative, supported by the German Federal Ministry and the DA’s High-Value Crops Development Program, has significantly improved coffee yields and farmers’ incomes. Tiu Laurel reported an increase in average yield from 0.3 metric tons (MT) to 0.8 MT per hectare, with some farmers reporting income growth of over 35 percent.
The DA aims to raise coffee farm yields to 2 MT per hectare by 2025, positioning the country in competition with Vietnam in coffee production. During his visit, Tiu Laurel also announced the distribution of P6.5 million in assistance for fertilizers and the establishment of coffee centers for 16 participating farmers’ groups.
According to the Philippine Coffee Board, the Philippines produced 30,000 MT of green coffee beans last year, a slight increase from 29,957 MT in 2022. Meanwhile, global coffee market growth is projected at a compounded annual growth rate of 5.4 percent from 2024 to 2030, driven by rising demand in Asia and the Pacific, as noted by market research firm Grand View Research.
