The Department of Agriculture in Calabarzon (DA-4A) has unveiled plans to rejuvenate coffee production across the region amid soaring market prices of the product, which was partially traced to a decline in local output.

During Tuesday’s Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas held at the Cultural Center in this city, Fidel Libao, executive director of DA-4A, said local coffee growers should increase their production to take advantage of the high prices of coffee.

He, however, told reporters at the Kapihan that boosting output on short order can be a daunting task from a logistical standpoint.

“Growing coffee is truly challenging –from cultivation to harvest and processing,” Libao said.

However, the DA has found a strong ally in the Batangas provincial government, he said.

Libao revealed that Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas has agreed to collaborate with the DA in planting 1 million coffee trees, particularly the Kapeng Barako (coffea liberica) variety, for which the province in well known.

Libao noted the success of the Cavite Coffee Processing and Trading project led by the Café Amadeo Development Cooperative.

This initiative, funded by the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and supported by the World Bank, has been recognized as one of the most impactful projects under DA-PRDP nationwide.

“The Cavite Coffee Processing and Trading project aims to revive and enhance the coffee industry in Amadeo, a cornerstone of the local economy,” Libao said.

The efforts underscore a concerted push by Calabarzon to reignite coffee cultivation, leveraging both local expertise and international support to meet growing market demands. (PNA)