“There’s money through coffee”
Posted by: RAFIS DA6 | Posted at: July 22, 2025
These have been the words of the members from proponent group, Camindangan Planters and Farm Workers Association (CAPFWA) and its cluster member Molobolo Sura Tomina Incorporated (MOSUTO Inc.) during the 19th World Bank Implementation Support Mission (ISM) to the I-REAP subproject, CHICKS Area Coffee Processing and Marketing Enterprise in Camindangan, Sipalay, Negros Occidental on July 10, 2025.
Through the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project, the CAPFWA and MOSUTO had showcased their enterprise to the World Bank Team headed by Senior Agriculture Economist and Task Team Leader, Mio Takada.
In line with this, CAPFWA Chairperson Richard Vallota presented the implementation status of the subprojects highlighting the growth of the enterprise nine months after its completion in October 2024 and establishing the importance of the trainings provided for the enterprise operations.
“Tapos nga nakumpleto ang enterprise namon, naka-intra kami sa mga coffee expo diri sa Negros kag sa Philippine Coffee Expo. Tungod diri, nakakuha kami sang kontrata sa Gourmet Farms nga nabase sa Manila kag naka-sales kami sang 5.2 million pesos sang February sini nga tuig.”
[After the enterprise was completed, we were able to join series of coffee expos here in Negros Occidental and with the Philippine Coffee Expo. Because of this, we have secured a contract with Gourmet Farms based in Manila and got a sales of 5.2 million pesos in February this year.]
Vallota also emphasized how the trainings provided for the association members have helped their planting practices and overall management for coffee processing.
“Tungod man dayon sa mga trainings nga ginahatag ni PRDP, nabal-an namon ang mga good agricultural practices about sa pagtanom sang kape kon sa diin makabulig gid ang rejuvenation. Natun-an man namon ang good manufacturing practices para sa quality kag safe nga pagprocess sang kape.”
[Also through the trainings provided by PRDP, we learned about good agricultural practices on coffee planting wherein rejuvenation was known to help [the production]. We also learned about good manufacturing practices for quality and safe coffee processing.]
Meanwhile, Senior Rural Development Specialist and Co-Task Team Leader Maria Theresa Quiñones commended the journey of the enterprise during less than a year of operations.
“Iko-compare ko siya sa kape na natikman ko sa ibang mga lugar at yung sa inyo, maihahanay ko na sa premium na talaga. So keep the quality very high para sa mas maraming customers hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kung hindi sa ibang bansa.“
[I can compare your coffee with other places I have been to and I must say, you have a premium product. So keep the quality very high for the customers not only in the Philippines but also abroad.]
Through the enterprise, coffee’s value continues to grow and with the reinforcement from the government through the PRDP, coffee farmers recognize the livelihood they can build through the commodity.###
