AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. personally presented much-needed inputs to 16 farmer associations in Bukidnon October 29 during a visit at the Bukidnon Integrated Coffee Center in Malaybalay City.
Bukidnon Integrated Coffee Center is home of the Mindanao Robusta Coffee Project, the joint initiative of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Nestlé Philippines.
The technical assistance consisted of bags of inorganic fertilizers and soil conditioner in keeping with the joint thrust of the two organizations for regenerative agriculture.
“We recognize the critical role that proper fertilization plays in boosting yields, and we believe this assistance will greatly enhance the productivity of the farmer beneficiaries. Through this event, we hope to showcase the momentum of the Mindanao Robusta Coffee project and deliver on the commitments the DA and Nestlé have put forth over a year into the project,” Nestle Philippines corporate affairs head Joey Uy said.
Balanced fertilization is an important aspect of sustainable agriculture. It is one of the techniques applied in regenerative agriculture, a method of farming that enriches the soil’s nutrients rather than depleting it.
Nestlé Philippines advocates for regenerative farming by training coffee farmers on practices such as agroforestry, cover crops, composting, and intercropping.
Regenerative agriculture will improve farmers’ resiliency so continued training on these regeneration principles will be a critical component of the training initiatives to be done under the DA-Nestlé partnership.
Mindanao Robusta Coffee Project is composed of four parts namely: integrated coffee nutrient management research for development; coffee productivity (fertilizer support); capacity building; and establishment of an integrated coffee center.
The project will directly benefit Mindanao coffee growers who produce coffee as a single crop, or intercrop it with coconut and other suitable high value commodities.
