The country’s production of dried coffee berries fell by 13.9 percent in the second quarter to just 7,700 metric tons from 8,930 metric tons in the same period last year because of the drought and the cutting down of old coffee trees, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.
The PSA said the drought resulted in lower harvests and smaller berries in North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
In Zamboanga del Norte and Ifugao, harvests dropped because the old and less productive trees were cut down.
The country’s biggest coffee producing region was SOCCSKSARGEN which yielded 3,120 metric tons or 30.5 percent of total production. Davao region accounted for 19 percent and ARMM produced 17.4 percent of total.
The PSA, however, noted an increase in harvest in some areas.
In Pangasinan, there was an increase in the number of coffee bearing trees. In Nueva Vizcaya, there was an extended harvest that spilled over the second quarter because as young bearing trees yielded more fruit.
The PSA said the Robusta variety accounted for 59.3 percent of the harvest, followed by Arabica at 28.9 percent.
Excelsa accounted for 11.3 percent and Liberica accounted for 0.6 percent.
