MALUNGON, Sarangani -- The Sarangani Coffee Industry Development Council (SCIDC) through the Inag Coffee Farmers Association Inc., in partnership with the local government unit (LGU) of Malungon conducted the first ‘Kape Malungon’ event on November 17, 2022, at Sunken Arena here highlighting the significance of coffee farmers and the coffee industry itself.
Coffee farmers and stakeholders participating in the said occasion emphasized the importance of the sector, as they vowed to practice good agricultural practices (GAP) so that they can produce quality coffee beans.
“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.
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.
During the event, Malungon's Office of the Municipal Agriculture (OMAg)-High Value Crop coordinator Phoebe Tampal presented the agricultural programs of LGU Malungon and its other interventions for the farmers. OMAg Malungon also distributed UV plastic to coffee associations attending the event.
The event’s resource speaker included Q Robusta Grader Arnel Cadeliña who talked about Specialty Coffee and Fine Robusta. He also 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 in Barangay Lower Mainit, Malungon and on October 20 to 21 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.
The 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.
The USAID Safe Water facilitated the conduct of the TOT for 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. (Genory Vanz Alfasain/Sarangani Coffee Industry Development Council)
