USAPANG KAPE AT TEKNOLOHIYA: Brewing a stronger coffee industry in Nueva Vizcaya

The Nueva Vizcaya State University holds the first (1st) Nueva Vizcaya Summit to bring together provincial and line agencies, PLGU and MLGUs, private sector, and coffee growers and traders to promote partnership and coordination towards a dynamic and sustainable development of the Nueva Vizcaya Coffee Industry.

The different stakeholders converged to discuss their efforts, activities, projects, and initiatives related to coffee. Further, issues and challenges were also raised by the different sectors most especially the coffee growers, farmers, traders, and processors. Some of the major issues raised involve low production, lack of quality planting materials, lack of machines and equipment, insufficient maintenance tools for coffee trees, and limited knowledge and skills on marketing and processing.

As a response and significant initial step, different agencies including the NVSU pledged their commitment to address these problems and strengthen the coffee industry in the province.

Local coffee products were also exhibited and promoted such as: KASIBREW of Kasibu Coffee Growers Association, Inc.,Vizcaya Coffee of Bumolo's Integrated Farm, Ambagio Kapi of Tiblac-Langak Farmers Association, Inc., Golden Coffee of Tactac Coffee Planters Association, and products of Sartin Café.

Agencies present were DTI, DOST, PLGU OPA, DA, DENR, Provincial Tourism Council, Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office (PROCEDO), Nueva Vizcaya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SAME-ACCORD, AGRIZKAYA Cooperative Federation, Tam-An Banaue MPC, Bugkalot Coffee Growers MPC, Kasibu Growers Association, Inc., Bumolo's Integrated Farm, Tiblac-Langak Farmers Association, Inc., Tactac Coffee Planters Association, Sartin Café, Saint Mary's University, and MLGUs of the different municipalities of the province.

This summit was envisioned by the former Vice President for Research, Extension and Training ?now University President Wilfredo A. Dumale, Jr. Under the direction of both Dr. Dumale and current VPRET Dr. Jonar I. Yago, the pioneering event was successfully executed as the first major activity of RET for year 2023.

By: Sheena Lyn R. Ramel, Science Research Specialist