Mindanao coffee farmers successfully secured P8 million in negotiated sales during the Philippine Coffee Expo 2023 held at the World Trade Center Manila.

This came after the Department of Agriculture’s – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) In Mindanao featured and linked their 11 coffee farmer-beneficiaries to various buyers during the recent Philippine Coffee Expo (PCE) held June 2-4, 2023 at World Trade Center in Manila.

Japanese green coffee beans (GCB) buyer, Shigeru Chiba, Sourcing Consultant for a Japanese coffee chain in Japan, is set to visit Davao City this month to establish market tie-ups with local coffee farmers.

Apart from market linkage, DA-PRDP supported the 11 coffee farmers associations improved quality of their products through provision of post-harvest facilities and equipment.

“Aside from international buyers, PCE 2023 also linked our farmers to institutional buyers which include Comfoods, a manufacturer and distributor of packaged roasted coffee under different brands such as Café Puro, Café Excelente, and Café Bueno,” says Cherrilyn Baylon, PRDP enterprise development specialist.

The sales generated at the PCE 2023 serves as a testament to the dedication and hard work of both the coffee farmers and DA-PRDP. This achievement not only boosts the income and livelihoods of coffee farmers but also contributes to the overall growth and development of the coffee industry in Mindanao.

“With PRDP’s continuous support and promising market tie-ups with groups such as Aj-Sewing LLC, the future looks promising for Mindanao coffee farmers,” Baylon adds. (Joy Montecalvo, PSO Min| Photos by Leonard Asuque)