KALINGA COFFEE GROWERS AIMS TO BECOME SUSTAINABLE

September 29, 2024 Provincial

TABUK CITY, Kalinga

Y-Kalingas, especially the private sector, most of whom are coffee growers and producers, linking up with the Kalinga provincial government and other government agencies, are building up their commitment in pushing the local coffee industry further to progress. Touted as the home to Cordillera’s best coffee blend business, Kalinga has its wet months, dry summers, and humus-laden soils that are ideal for cultivating the lovely, fragrant blossoms. Kalinga ranked as the 7th largest coffee producer in the country with a total of 3,698.50 metric tons (MT) or 68% of the region’s total coffee production.

Among the Kalinga towns, Tanudan has the widest production area for Robusta with 3,954 hectares (ha) covering almost half of the province’s production area. Around 10,598 farmers are tending about 7,418ha for Robusta production. These accounts to a total of 3,784MT of the said variety being produced in the province. On the other hand, Pinukpuk has the widest area for Arabica with 10ha or 31.54% of the total production area. Also, Kalinga produces a total of 56.60MT Arabica and 58MT Excelsa.

Most of these coffee plantations in the province are located along the mountain sides wherein forest trees such as acacia serve as a shade for the coffee trees. Kalinga Governor and Kalinga Provincial Coffee Council (KPCC) Chairman James Edduba said, the people of Kalinga do not greet their visitors with “Good Morning”, but instead offer them with overflowing coffee. He explained, ‘it is a rich tradition of Kalinga, which the people are proud of’. During the First Kalinga Coffee Summit themed “Brewing the Future and Sustainability of Kalinga Coffee” held recently, representatives from different sectors led by the KPPC hall-marked it as a major milestone in the province’s efforts to propel its coffee industry and ensure its sustainability for future generations.

Summit participants pledged to unite as key stakeholders in their shared goal of promoting and protecting the unique heritage of Kalinga coffee. Representatives of the different agencies of the government as well as the academe including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Kalinga State University (KSU) committed to be among the vital partners in boosting efforts to promote Kalinga coffee in the local and international markets. Edduba further explained that the main focus of this week’s summit is the sustainability of the local coffee industry and the preservation of the rich tradition of Kalinga coffee, while looking forward to address the impacts of climate change, market competition, and the challenges of agricultural innovation.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN