Around 50 coffee growers from six Proponent Groups (PGs) of coffee enterprise development subprojects implemented under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) in CAR participated in a four-day benchmarking visit to several coffee centers in the region.

The PGs who joined in the benchmarking visit were Hojap Multipurpose Cooperative (HMPC) from Ifugao; some affiliate PGs of the Benguet Arabica Coffee Enterprise; Sagada Arabica Coffee Growers and Processors Organization (SACGPO) and Bagnen-Balintaugan Timpuyog Credit Cooperative from Mountain Province; and Dupligan Farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative (DUFAMPCO) from Kalinga. Representatives from the LGUs also participated in the event. 

Held from December 11 to 14, the benchmarking visit was intended for the participants to learn and understand the enterprise components of the coffee centers and organizations they visited, enabling them to compare and evaluate their practices, methods, and performance against industry standards or best practices.

The group first visited the Montañosa Coffee Center, managed by the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) in Bontoc, Mountain Province. A brief discussion was held about the importance of cupping and its role in the quality control of coffee and the history of the Montañosa Coffee Center. After which, the participants had a tour of the center’s facilities, particularly the cupping laboratory and the roasting area. 

While in the area, the group also stopped by the Sagada Roastery, which is being managed by the SACGPO, where they had hands-on practice in coffee cupping.

After their visit to Mountain Province, the group visited the coffee processing center of HMPC in Asipulo, Ifugao. The HMPC management shared their existing practices in terms of organizational development and strategies for running their coffee enterprise. They also visited the different facilities provided by several agencies that are being used by HMPC in their coffee business.

On the last day, the group visited the QRS Farms in Tabuk City, Kalinga, where they were able to gain additional knowledge on Good Agricultural Practices in coffee farm management and pest and disease management, among others. They also had a dialogue with the management of Kalinga Blend.

The participants expressed their gratitude to the DA-PRDP and to the hosts of the benchmarking event, for accommodating them in the past days and for sharing their good practices and strategies.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to learn new things that we can apply in our cooperative and coffee business.  For coffee growers in particular, it was a great opportunity to learn from other growers and benchmark to improve the quality of their production. I hope this becomes an annual activity for PRDP PGs,” shared Shirley Tagtag, HMPC Manager.

The exchange of knowledge, best practices, and establishment of networks forged during this benchmarking initiative not only empower the PGs, but contribute to the collective growth and resilience of the entire coffee farming community. As they continue to implement positive changes inspired by their benchmarking experience, they pave the way for a more sustainable, productive, and prosperous future for coffee cultivation. // Elvy Estacio, RPCO-CAR InfoACE