by
Gigi Dumallig
TABUK
CITY, Kalinga - The Kalinga Apayao State College (KASC) is
now embarking in the research and production of Hawaiian Arabica Coffee and
macadamia nuts in the province.
With
support from the MacNut Phils Inc., KASC recently launched the program starting
with the planting of some 2,000 seedlings of Arabica coffee particularly the
Typica variety in a one hectare demo farm.
MacNut
Phils Inc., President Jorge Disuanco said this marks the partnership of the
college and MacNut in propagating said variety in the province.
“Our
goal is to make farmers rich and contented by engaging in Arabica coffee and
macadamia nuts production and processing,” he said relating that the company
would be working with the farmers through the KASC.
MacNut
would serve as the buyer provided that the farmers comply with the conditions
of the company such as the implementation of organic processes from planting to
harvesting which is vital in meeting the demands of the international market
whose consumers are now very much health conscious.
MacNut
Phils Inc. Technical Consultant David Santos emphasized the need for farmers to
get their seedlings from the company to ensure the quality of plants. Seedlings
are being prepared using new technologies, he said.
According
to Santos, MacNut particularly selected macadamia nuts and Arabica Coffee for
their product lines considering the health and environmental benefits of using
the said plants.
The
free seedlings given to KASC came from the MacNut’s nursery. Seedlings could be
bought from their nurseries at Tarlac, Baguio City, Quezon, Nueva Viscaya,
Davao and Bukidnon, he said.
In
a message, KASC President Eduardo Bagtang said this project is part of the
college’s program to bring to Kalinga the world’s best high value crop varieties.
This aims to guarantee that the province’s products will meet global market
demands and someday improve the lives of all farmers engaged in agri-business
in the province, he said.
“The
Kalinga people deserve the best world product not only for sale but most
especially for consumption,” he said as he encouraged the Department of
Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to
utilize some of their funds for the same endeavor.
He
suggested that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through the
national re-greening program, to opt for the planting of high value fruit
bearing trees such as the Arabica Typica Coffee variety and macadamia nuts to
ensure a long lasting program, instead of just planting trees which could be
just harvested for lumber or firewood after a few years.
