The Department of Agriculture (DA) has pledged at least PHP1 billion in support for the coffee farming industry, with a focus on farmers in Northern Mindanao.

During his visit to the Bukidnon Integrated Coffee Center in Malaybalay City, on Tuesday, DA Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. said he would seek an additional budget allocation from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

He said the DA wants to reduce the country’s annual coffee bean import rate by 10 to 15 percent.

“We need at least an additional 30,000 hectares for coffee farming, which I hope we can secure,” Laurel said.

While in Bukidnon, Laurel also distributed inputs and support to 16 coffee farmer associations involved in the Mindanao Robusta Coffee Project, a collaboration between the DA and multinational food and beverage company Nestlé Philippines.

Jose Uy III, Nestlé’s head of corporate affairs, noted that the Philippines requires around 400,000 metric tons of coffee beans each year, with Nestlé producing about 40,000 metric tons locally to meet Philippine demand.

Approximately 80 percent of Nestlé’s coffee products are sourced from Mindanao.

The Bukidnon provincial government recently approved a coffee industry roadmap to further boost production and sustainability in the region. (PNA)