LAOAG CITY, Philippines – As the demand for coffee keeps a record high both in local and international market, the government of the province of Ilocos Norte, in the northwest of the Luzon Island in the Philippines, is encouraging local farmers to diversify their crops and plant more coffee.
Apart from the on-going development of a 1,000-hectare coffee plantation in Piddig and Carasi towns, the provincial government through the Special Projects and Development Office (SPDO) has also started promoting coffee propagation in idle public lots and vows to provide assistance to interested farmers.
Edwin Cariño, head of the SPDO said coffee production is not capital intensive so it offers a viable income to farmers. It does not require much water supply too and a low maintenance crop.
“The provincial government will not only provide coffee seedlings to interested farmers but also technical assistance from our Provincial Agriculture Office,” he said.
Cariño assured that “the market demand of coffee remains high in the national level,” citing data from the Department of Agriculture that “an average Filipino consumes 1.2 kilos of coffee annually.”
“Some farmers have already expressed their interest in this endeavor and we are encouraging more Ilocanos to utilize their uncultivated lands for agricultural purposes,” Cariño added.
Promoting high value crops in Ilocos Norte is part of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte’s thrust for agricultural sustainability through its flagship agricultural program ‘Paspas Dur-as, Biag ti Away’ (rapid development in the rural areas).
Governor Imee Marcos said that engaging in the industry will raise economic activity in the province in the long run as it creates alternative source of livelihood for Ilocano farmers.
