Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur (November 7, 2019)
– With the government’s move to revitalize the cacao industry, the Department
of Trade and Industry on Wednesday turned over a set of processing equipment to
a town cooperative in Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur to help farmers produce dark
chocolate, tablea, and other cacao-based products.
DTI-9 Regional Director Sitti
Amina M. Jain said the Midsalip Farmers’ Cooperative (MIFAMCO) received a
P2.1million dark chocolate processing facility that they can use for free,
provided that they can yield cacao-based products within 6 consecutive months
and will be permanently owned by the cooperative if properly managed within 2
years.
Jain said that the project is
aligned to the priorities of DTI where cacao is one of the priority clusters
and is included in the rapid growth programs of the department.
The project is open to other
cacao farmers in the province according to the DTI regional chief.
“There will be lots of assistance
and activities in store for the cacao industry in Zamboanga del Sur considering
it as one of the leading cacao-producing provinces in the region”, the director
added.
Giving of free cacao seedlings to
farmers has been a major agricultural program of Gov. Victor J. Yu since his
congressional years which complemented to the programs of the national government and benefited municipalities as they now enjoy
the fruits of their labor.
Development coordinators formed by the provincial government are continually conducting Pananom Program Orientation in villages to assist farmers in propagating the seedlings given to them.
Aside from providing facilities
to farmers and their cooperatives, DTI also offers training on project
management, access to market and packaging for cacao products.
(Photo Courtesy: DTI Region 9)
