Quezon To Intensify Cacao Production, Organize Cacao Growers Association

The province of Quezon is set to intensify cacao production as intercrop or alternative crop to coconuts by conducting training to farmers coming from 11 towns and a city here.

Provincial Agriculturist Roberto Gajo said some 60 farmers from the towns of Lucban, Pagbilao, Polilio, Real, San Antonio, Sariaya, Alabat, Atimonan, Lopez, Perez, San Narciso and Tayabas City attended the Cacao Productivity Enhancement Training conducted by the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) over the week end at Ouan’s Worth Farm Resort here.

Gajo said the training aimed to improve the production of cacao in the province and organize the cacao growers association as the partner of the provincial government in cacao development programs.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will assist in marketing the cacao products.

Gajo said further that seeds of the cacao fruit are made into chocolate, ‘tablea’, candies, soap, shampoo, cosmetics and food ingredients than provide extra income for farmers when intercropped with coconuts.

According to the data of the OPA, the province has 1,540.55 hectares that can be planted with cacao of which 520,459 trees had already been planted.

The data also showed that the town of Lucban has 702.5 hectares available for cacao production with 281,700 trees already planted making it the largest cacao producer in the province. (PNA) JMC/ZAT/GIDEON BELEN/EBP