Coffee cupping equipment and supplies worth over P 200 thousand were turned over to the Kalinga State University (KSU) through the Provincial LGU of Kalinga on October 18 at KSU, Tabuk City, Kalinga.

The equipment will be used in support to the operations of the Kalinga Integrated Coffee Processing and Marketing Enterprise, a subproject funded under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA PRDP) of which the Kalinga Coffee Cluster Agricultural Cooperative (KCCAC) is the main implementer.

The coffee cupping equipment and supplies were acquired as part of the establishment of a coffee cupping laboratory that will be managed by the KSU. It will be used by the KCCAC in the development of specialty graded coffee.

The newly acquired equipment and materials are needed by the PLGU and the KCCAC in reviving and rehabilitating the local coffee industry to boost rural economies, generate incomes for coffee farming communities and reduce poverty among coffee producers.

The supplies and equipment that were turned over are: roaster machine (1), sensitive weighing scale (2), moisture meter (1), cupping table (1) digital goose neck kettle (2), sample sugar coffee grinder (1), electric stove (1), graduated cylinders (3), cupping trays (3), and other laboratory supplies needed for coffee cupping.

The turnover ceremony was spearheaded by the PLGU of Kalinga headed by Gov. Ferdinand B. Tubban, participated by DA PRDP Deputy Project Director Engr. Danilo P. Daguio, Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Domingo A. Bakilan, KSU President Dr. Eduardo T. Bagtang, KSU Vice President for Research, Development, Extension and Training Dr. Jovita E. Saguibo, James Pasikan of the Department of Trade and Industries (DTI)-Kalinga, members and officers of KCCAC led by Joel Galaddi, and other officials of PLGU Kalinga and KSU.

During the ceremony, Engr. Bakilan stressed that the coffee cupping laboratory is a joint effort for farmers to be innovative – a symbol of a great partnership between the national government, the provincial government, and the academe.

With this, Gov. Tubban assured KSU and the KCCAC on the support of the PLGU for initiatives to improve the quality of coffee in Kalinga.

Daguio also said that the facility is another milestone for the PRDP since it is the first cupping laboratory in Kalinga as it was the pilot province for PRDP implementation in CAR.

“This facility will contribute not only in improving the quality of Kalinga coffee but it will also add to the value of their product which will eventually increase their income,” added Daguio.

As such, KSU President Bagtang said that the quality of Kalinga coffee may improve through research and food technology through the cupping laboratory.

Bangtang further said that this will serve as an extension service of the university to coffee growers/processors in Kalinga especially to the members of the KCCAC.

Towards improving coffee quality

Meanwhile, the establishment of a coffee cupping laboratory is among the components of the Project entitled “Enhancing Kalinga Coffee Cluster Productivity and Quality cum Establishment of Cupping Laboratory” funded under the PRDP of which the Office for Agricultural Services and the KSU are co-implementer. Aside from the establishment of a cupping laboratory, the Project includes the conduct of modular training courses on production, post-harvest, and processing; coffee farm expansion; and the establishment of learning sites on diversified farming.

The said Project is funded and implemented under the implementation process for PRDP’s I-REAP (Enterprise Development) component specifically under 3.2 subcomponent or the technology and information for enterprise and market development.

“The capability trainings as part of this Project will equip the KCCAC members in the implementation of their enterprise and it will also serve as a trainers’ training program for the selected participants,” said Rocalyn Gayagay, PRDP Business Development Officer.

Gayagay further said that the Project have already started conducting modular training courses to selected participants from the KCCAC.

In the Cordillera, another PRDP-assisted Coffee Cupping Laboratory will also be established in Sagada, Mountain Province with Sagada Coffee Growers Peoples Organization (SACGPO) as the proponent group. To date, the first tranche for the subproject was already delivered and is expected to be 100 percent completed before the year ends.

Coffee was selected as the major commodity to be piloted in the PRDP during its inception in 2015. The PRDP is a World Bank funded national project that partners with the private sector and the local government in developing rural enterprises, and in providing key infrastructure facilities, technology and information that will raise incomes, productivity, and competitiveness in the countryside. ### ELVY S. TAQUIO (DA PRDP RPCO-CAR)