Following the kick-off meeting of the 3^rd World Bank Implementation Support Mission for Luzon A Cluster to the Department of Agriculture-led Philippine Rural Development Project, a subproject site visit cum consultation with Kalinga coffee farmers took place on November 15 in Patiking, Tabuk City, Kalinga.

The WB mission team led by Frauke Jungbluth, task team leader and lead agriculture economist had a consultation with the proponent groups (PGs) and looked into the status of the Kalinga coffee enterprise project. Ongoing preparations and future plans of the PGs for the enterprise were validated.

Among the queries raised by the WB experts concerns the ongoing activities being conducted by the PGs, their familiarity with the equipment requested, fund allotment for repair and maintenance of equipment and machineries, opportunities and future plans, among others.

In response, the proponents claimed that part of their preparatory activities include entering into marketing agreements with prospective buyers and conducting regular meetings.

“We have already entered into marketing agreements with some of the institutional buyers here and in Baguio.We also regularly conduct meetings in the enterprise cluster and within our specific cooperatives as well, to familiarize ourselves on the processes and procedures of our enterprise,” said Luzviminda Valderama of Nambucayan Agriculture Cooperative (NACO), an affiliate PG of the enterprise.

As to funding, 25% of the enterprise’s net surplus is allotted for the operation and maintenance of the vehicles and equipment requested. A separate percentage is allotted for future expansion and purchasing of additional equipment.

Moreover, the PGs have initiated plans of constructing additional buildings or buyingland since the lot where the trading center for their enterprise will be constructed is government-owned. They also consider marketing their coffee with their own label/brand of roasted ground coffee beans as they go along with the project.

In turn, Jungbluth advised them to look into other opportunities and tap into higher market, especially for the wet processed beans since it entails a higher market price over those processed with other methods.

“There are other potential buyers in the high-end market for coffee and I really hope that the equipment now comes,” she added.

Prior to the consultation, a coffee production area was visited and the business plan of the enterprise subproject was presented. After which actual dehulling, sorting and roasting of green coffee beans were demonstrated.

The purpose of the WB mission visit is to look into the progress of PRDP subprojects and assess the readiness and capability of the proponents. (Elvy S. Taquio, CARPCO InfoACE Unit)

Led by World Bank task team leader Frauke Jungbluth (7th from right) and Kalinga Governor Jocel C. Baac (4th from left), unties the ribbon to formally open the exhibit and market encounter during the 3rd World Bank Implementation Support Mission for Luzon A Cluster to the Department of Agriculture-led Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) held at Tabuk City, Kalinga on November 14, 2016. In photo are (l-r) Kalinga Vice Governor James Edubba, DA-RFO-2 RTD Orlando Lorenzana, DA-RFO-CAR Regional Executive Director and PRDP RPCO-CAR Project Director Lorenzo M. Caranguian, Kalinga Governor Jocel C. Baac, WB task team leader Frauke Jungbluth, PRDP PSO Luzon A Project Director Andrew Villacorta, PRDP NPCO Assistant to the DPD Engr. Cirilo N. Namoc, RPCO-CAR Deputy Project Director & DA-RFO-CAR RTD Danilo P. Daguio, DA-RFO-3 ARD Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr., Kalinga PPMIU Head Engr. Domingo Bakilan and DA Consultant for Luzon A Raffy Panagan (Photo by MZabala, Caption by ETaquio).