Ilocos Norte eyes 50-hectare cacao expansion

Cacao fruits (File photo by PNA’s LEILANIE ADRIANO)

LAOAG CITY — The province of Ilocos Norte is expanding its cacao plantations in the towns of Adams, Pagudpud and Vintar this year to boost economic livelihood and diversify the income of farmers.

As one of the promising high-value crops and the province has an extensive area suitable for growing it, cacao growing is being promoted by the provincial government.

The project is in collaboration with various government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade Industry.

In the towns of Pagudpud, Adams, and Vintar, several farmers in the area are expanding their cacao plantations with hybrid varieties.

Local government units assist them with the provision of various agricultural inputs, including organic fertilizers.

“This year, we have expanded our cacao plantations to diversify and strengthen our agricultural sector,” Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc said Thursday.

He enjoined more farmers to plant more high-value crops, instead of rice, to increase their income.

Cacao, also known as the “tree of love” and food of the gods, produces dried and fermented fatty seeds, which are used to make chocolates.

It is also applied in food, beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Bielmaju Walley, a cacao plantation owner and food processor in Adams, Ilocos Norte, on Thursday said the government’s renewed interest in boosting the cacao industry is beneficial, particularly to the indigenous peoples community of Adams.

She recalled that during the 1980s, several cacao varieties were introduced in Adams, making the municipality the cacao capital of Ilocos Norte.

To sustain the operation of a local chocolate factory in Adams, which is now engaged in producing chocolate bars, tablea (chocolate disc), cacao wine, and choco mint drinks, at least 10 more hectares of cacao plantations are being developed as start-ups.

“This is a welcome development, and hopefully, our cacao growers will get more assistance, such as the provision of quality planting materials to improve crop yield,” she said.

According to the DTI, cacao has strong domestic and export market demand and is now considered a very important commodity.

In support of cacao growers, the DTI has provided more than P1 million worth of cacao processing facilities in Adams town, giving more jobs to the locals.

Based on the latest survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Ilocos Region ranks 12th in cacao production in the country out of the 16 regions, contributing 15.2 metric tons annually. (PNA)