Training Highlights Cacao’s Value in Climate Change

About 120 organic farmers from Aloguinsan and Pinamungajan town participated in a two-day orientation seminar that aimed to provide proper scientific approach in growing cacao, with emphasis on the plant’s contribution in Cebu Province’s Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA) project.

The training stressed on how the fruit can help in Capitol’s program as it sets up disaster management and climate change contingency plans for 51 LGUs.

PDRRMO Cacao facilitator Cris Cambonga said cacao is not only good for agri-business but it can also help in the DRR-CCA since it is a versatile fruit-bearing plant that can be planted even in landslide-prone areas.

Cambonga added that the demand of the Malvaceae fruit is not seasonal and the Philippines produce 5850 metric tons a year with a value of $4,352 in the world market.

“Cacao has a stable demand in the world market and it’s not seasonal. It is good for agri-business to start with. And since cacao is so versatile, we can plant it in the slope or in landslide-prone areas, thus, it will help in our climate change adaptation,” Cambonga said.

The two-day workshop included DRR-CCA concepts on cacao rehabilitation and propagation techniques and technology, classification, types and benefits of cacao, integrated pest and disease management, post-harvest management and planning.

Capitol started the program last February and planned to train 900 farmers from 15 LGUs by August 2017 through the coordination of Capitol’s key offices Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) and Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAO).

Cacao was first introduced to Cebuanos in 1521 when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan presented the fruit as a gift to Rajah Humabon and Queen Juana. (Chad Cordova Bacolod)

SOURCE: www.cebu.gov.ph