The Department of Science and Technology – Negros Island Region (DOST-NIR) has vowed to help coffee farmers in Dauin, Negros Oriental improve their production to make them competitive in the market.

DOST-NIR officer-in-charge, Assistant Director Gilbert Arbon said Thursday they would find interventions for the Baslay Highland Agriculture Cooperative (BASHACO) as its coffee production still needs refinement.

“The DOST is gearing up to make Dauin a ‘smart municipality,’ a ridge-to-reef sustainability concept, that would include Apo Island and Baslay,” he said.

BASHACO is located in Dauin’s Barangay Baslay.

Arbon said he learned from BASHACO’s chief executive officer Ruel Perez that the cooperative’s coffee production was affected by the El Niño-triggered drought last year and a typhoon, which resulted in reduced yield.

He also noted the high moisture content of the cooperative’s coffee beans, which affects post-production and has to improve on storage capacity.

In terms of intervention, Arbon said the DOST has its Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARD) that has funded the development of a technology dubbed “smart agriculture.”

Arbon said they hope to include Baslay in the implementation of this project for coffee production and post-harvest facilities.

He lauded Dauin’s local government unit for being supportive of BASHACO as its Baslay Highland Brew Coffee is the One Town, One Product (OTOP) of the municipality.

BASHACO is one of 30 exhibitors participating in the 3rd Dumaguete Coffee Festival, which kicked off Thursday at the Robinsons Place mall in this capital city.

Participants include coffee shops, baristas, coffee producers and suppliers, farmers’ groups, and retailers of equipment used in the industry.

The festival runs until July 23 with three competitions highlighting the event initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry, in partnership with Teamskills Technological Institute, Inc. (PNA)