RP to augment cacao production on back of strong demand

A group of cacao growers is eyeing for an increased production of the crop to 100,000 metric tons (MT) over a ten-year period on the back of strong demands from Asian countries. “This demand is just the tip of the iceberg. If we are to consider the world demand, we should be producing at least 500,000 MT [for the period]," the Philippine Cacao Foundation director Josephine Ramos said Friday. The cacao production in the country reached 5,000 MT in 2007, according to her. Ramos noted that Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan had requested for a combined volume of 100,000 MT of fermented cocoa beans for the production of high-quality confectionary products, including chocolates and beverages. Thus, the industry called on the government to signify is commitment to support the cacao program, she said. It was only in 2008 when the government include cacao in its list of high-value commercial crops, she said, pointing out that a number of investors have expressed interest to go into cacao farming. But the issues of land use and government support deter foreign companies from coming in, Ramos added. The local industry could earn as much as P2 billion to P5 billion in four years, she noted. “This is very achievable given the fact that we already have identified sites where nurseries and farms can be established. The continuing demand for good quality fermented beans is an opportunity for local farmers to snatch some of the global demand," Ramos said. At present, there are around 2.5 million newly-planted cacao trees, she said. Ramos pointed out that the government is targeting to plant at least 1 million trees in 2011, but if fresh funding will be available, the industry could plant as much as 10 million seedlings. She said Davao has already developed 20,000 hectares of agro-forestry lands to accommodate cacao seedlings that could fill in 10 million hectares. “What we need now is the support of the national government. We don’t have problems looking for export markets," she said. -- JE/OMG, GMANews.TV