Benguet Coffee to go global

Philippines To Cash In On US$10 Billion World Coffee Mart

MANILA, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The Philippines plans to raise its coffee production to cash in on the burgeoning US$10 billion world coffee market, an official said today. International Coffee Organisation Certifying Agency (ICOCA) Executive Director Antonio Reyes said coffee production can be increased not through farm hectarages but through rejuvenation of existing farms.

"With this approach, the industry can easily go beyond its current two billion pesos share of the global market," the official said in a statement.

"We expect coffee production to increase two-fold in the next ten years if we implement programmes that would boost productivity," he said.

These include integrated pest management, introduction of modern farm technologies and replanting of new variety strains, Reyes said.

Philippine coffee is currently being shipped to Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Russia, the Caroline Islands, Oman, Germany, Switzerland, the United States, Papua New Guinea, and other Middle East countries.

"South Korea recently became the destination of our roasted and ground coffee which represents about 50 per cent to 70 per cent of our total exports," Reyes said.

The Philippines produces four types of coffee on a commercial scale -- Columbian mild Arabica, Brazilian, mild Arabica and Robustas.

However, the country's production is only about one percent of the world's total coffee production of 100 million 60-kilo bags, the official noted.

Over the last 12 years, annual Philippine coffee production fluctuated from a low of 827,000 to a high of 1,395,000 bags.

At least 120,000 hectares of agricultural lands are planted to various coffee varieties in 18 provinces in Mindanao and Luzon regions.

The coffee-producing provinces are Davao, Agusan, Misamis Oriental, General Santos, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan and Bukidnon in Mindanao.

In Luzon, the provinces planting coffee are Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Bataan, Kalinga Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province, Cagayan Valley and Isabela.

More than 88,000 coffee farmers directly depend on the industry whose export potential is viewed as still promising with the growing demand for varieties of coffee.

"We will continue to promote coffee as a generic either as green bean or processed coffee. Our 'barako' coffee will be promoted as a unique Philippine brand and as a seal of quality," Reyes said.