Cacao farmers will soon expect an added value to their harvested beans with the introduction of a processing plant in the near future in South Cotabato, Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Raul Teves confirmed during the recent Kapihan sa Kapitolyo media forum hosted by the PGO – Information Division.
Dr. Teves disclosed that cacao farmers in South Cotabato are already organized and the establishment of a fermentation plant for them is already in the making.
“Cacao, together with coffee, contributes a lot in the agricultural economy of the province” Teves added, “and establishing a processing plant will further boost the earnings of our cacao farmers.”
Meanwhile, Teves said that the Food Terminal in the town of Tupi will be operating soon.
The Php 2.5 billion facility funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) will sit in an 8-hectare lot in Barangay Palian of said town that will serve as cold storage facility and processing plant for all the agricultural products of the province.
The facilities will likewise give an added value to farmers by prolonging the life of their harvested crops due to the cold storage and processing technology, Teves added..(photo credit.googlecom)
