DAVAO CITY – A local official here is mulling for a resolution to declare Davao Region as cacao capital.
Councilor Marissa Salvador-Abella, chairperson of the City Council Committee on Agriculture and Food said she is requesting Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J Alcala to declare Davao Region as cacao capital.
Abella cited data from DA-HVCDP (High Value Commercial Crops Development Program) which showed 90 percent of the total cacao production in the country is mostly sourced from Mindanao and 80 percent of which is from Davao Region.
“As of 2015, Davao Region has over 19,000 hectares planted [with] cacao with Davao City as the leading cacao producer accounting for 6,060 hectares,” said Abella.
“Davao City is likewise home to award winning chocolate maker, Malagos Chocolate and supplier of Askinosie Chocolate owned by social entrepreneur Shawn Askinosie,” she said.
The Regional Cacao Congress was attended by hundreds of cacao farmers last week in a hotel here in Davao.
The DA presented its programs and consulted the stakeholders on how to further develop and sustain the cacao industry.
During the event, the Mindanao Development Authority and the Department of Agriculture inked a memorandum of agreement to implement Cacao Double-Up Program (CDUP).
“This program aims to increase the industry goal from 100,000 metric tons (MT) to 200,000 MT and increase productivity level by 1 kg to 2 kg per tree per year,” said Abella.
Abella said the target is to plant 17.8 million cacao trees next year to be inter-cropped with coconuts. (davaotoday.com)
