The Department of Agriculture (DA) 5 (Bicol) has started to distribute over PHP14.5 million worth of agricultural interventions for cacao, coffee, and coconut farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in five provinces in the region, an official said Wednesday.

In an interview, Lovella Guarin, DA-5 spokesperson, said the beneficiaries were 43 FCAs with almost 1,500 members from Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

“The interventions by DA through the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) are under the Coconut Famers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP). The distribution started for the province of Albay. For the other provinces, it’s ongoing and expected to finish this month,” she said.

Guarin said different interventions would be given to Catanduanes province, which is known for abaca.

“The farmers of Catanduanes have already requested interventions that the HVCDP will try to accommodate,” she added.

Guarin said 30 FCAs would receive PHP10.5 million worth of support for expanding cacao production, and 13 others would receive a total of PHP4 million worth of support for cacao rehabilitation.

The interventions for cacao production include foliar fertilizer, soil conditioner, organic fertilizer, black net, short pruning shear, long pruning shear, grass cutter, and grafted cacao seedlings.

For cacao rehabilitation, each association receives a package composed of foliar fertilizer, soil conditioner, short pruning shear, long pruning shear, grass cutter, mini chainsaw, grafting knife, shovel, and bolo.

Dr. Mary Grace Rodriguez, OIC Regional Technical Director for Operations and HVCDP focal person, said the program aims to recognize the vital role of the coconut farmers who form the backbone of the agriculture sector.

“The future of the coconut industry is not just about production but sustainable development —where CFIDP is crucial with its seven components. Under the HVCDP, we focus on the community-based farm enterprise development for intercropping coffee and cacao to provide farmers with diversified income sources,” she added.

Rodriguez thanked the local government units, which identified the beneficiaries, and encouraged individual coconut farmers who are not yet members of any FCAs, to organize themselves into associations and be able to receive interventions from the government. (PNA)