‘Kape Malungon’ highlights coffee farmers of Malungon town

 

The Sarangani Coffee Industry Development Council (SCIDC) through Inag Coffee Farmers Association Inc., in partnership with LGU Malungon conducted the first ‘Kape Malungon’ event on November 17, 2022, at Sunken Arena, Malungon, Sarangani Province.

Coffee farmers and stakeholders participated in the said occasion, which aimed to highlight the importance of the sector and encouraged them to practice Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) so that they can produce quality coffee beans.

The participating coffee associations were – Inag Coffee Farmers Associations Inc., Malalag Cogon Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (MACARBA), Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma Para sa Kalambuan sa Brgy. Tamban (NAMAKATA) Farmers Association, United Peoples of San Juan, Lamlifew IP Farmers Association, Tampal Farmers Association, Kasalngad Upland Farmers Association, Nagkahiusang Kababainan ug Kabatan-onan (sa Brgy. Lutay) Farmers Association and Abusambal Farmers Association.

“The activity is one of the ways to promote our coffee farmers and the Malungon coffee. We are thankful that our local government is supportive of this initiative,” SCIDC Chairperson Renny Boy Takyawan said.

Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg) High Value Crop Coordinator Phoebe Tampal presented the agricultural programs of LGU Malungon and their other interventions for the farmers. OMAg Malungon also gave UV plastic to coffee associations that were present during the event.

Q Robusta Grader Arnel Cadeliña was the resource speaker and talked about Specialty Coffee and Fine Robusta. Then he conducted a coffee appreciation activity with the members of GenSan Coffee Association.

In addition, the newly trained coffee mentors of Malungon who underwent Training of Trainers (TOT) on October 18 to 19 and November 8 to 9 in Barangay Lower Mainit, Malungon and on October 20 to 21 and November 10 to 11 in Barangay Upo, Maitum were also presented during the event. They are expected to share their learnings that they have gained from the trainings to other coffee farmers in their respective communities.

Their TOT aimed to train coffee farmers on good agricultural practices to produce better yield and quality coffee beans that can help increase their income. This was also intended to improve the water resources in watershed areas while encouraging participants to become coffee mentors in their respective communities.

USAID Safe Water facilitated the TOT activities of both Eastern and Western Sarangani Watershed areas.

The Kape Malungon event was part of the celebration of the 15th Slang Festival that ran from November 18-19, 2022. 

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