Cordi Arabica coffee production gets boost

By Dexter See

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The opening of the Arabica coffee crop season in the Cordilleras will greatly empower the involvement of more coffee farmers in the production and processing of Arabica coffee with the inauguration and demonstration of the multi-million state-of-the-art Rocky Mountain Cafe modern coffee processing mill located at Benguet State University Bektey pilot farm.

The coffee processing mill has a state-of-the-art coffee pulper capable of pulping hundreds of kilos of coffee beans in a day and subsequently drying the same which will be eventually milled right in the area and ready for the market.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala led other agriculture stakeholders in the launching of the revitalized and reinforced Arabica coffee production in the region which is perceived to become one of the alternative sources of income of farmers who want to venture on coffee production which is reportedly conducive in different parts of the region.

Rocky Mountain Cafe and Benguet State University, both leaders in the highland coffee industry, have a partnership that aims to promote the best practices in Arabica coffee production and processing and make the Cordillera a premier Arabica coffee producers considering the existence of vast potential coffee plantations which will also serve as a means to preserve and protect the state of the region’s watersheds.

Alcala expressed his support for this initiative, adding that he was glad a private company such as Rocky Mountain is working hand in hand with the government in revitalizing the Philippine coffee industry.

“We want to have a reinvigorated Arabica coffee industry through the private public partnership in order to maximise the development and utilization of our country’s resources to spur economic growth, especially in the countryside. We want our farmers to have as many sources of income in order to help improve their living condition, thus, venturing to coffee production is one of our priorities,” Alcala stressed.

Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee Company (RMACC), a subsidiary of Rocky Mountain Cafe, operates coffee plantations in Tuba, Benguet; Miarayon, Talkie, and Sil-ipon, Libona, both at the foothills of Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon; Kiamba, Sarangani; and soon in Camp John Hay in the heart of Baguio City. The firm owns and manages a network of modern coffee nurseries, coffee mills, and grading centers nationwide.

Rocky Mountain uses environment-friendly techniques in increasing coffee production and quality throughout the Philippines, providing jobs toupland farmers and creating positive spin-off effects on the local agricultural economy.

Alcala saw for himself how ripe coffee berries were processed in the modern ecological post-harvest facility in a much shorter time than the traditional practice, easing the burden of coffee farmers and eliminating bean defects from faulty processing.

The inauguration heralds the start of the coffee harvest in the Cordilleras, a long-awaited event among the farmers.

“Cordillera has been identified s a potential Arabica producer provided that appropriate technologies are available for the purpose and the presence of Rock Mountain Cafe will make the difference.” He added.

Arabica coffee thrives best in the region because of semi-template weather condition and the fertile soil.

Arabica coffee is also considered good reforestation material because it grows even in the steep mountain slopes and helps hold the soil from being washed away by heavy rains.