LCDFI Extends Technical Assistance to a Cacao Association

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through a letter addressed to Chairman Mary Jane C. Ortega of LCDFI requested Mr. Gil G. Garcia, Project Manager of LCDFI to serve as Resource Speaker during the Seminar on Cacao Crop Maintenance and Post-Harvest Processing at Barangay san Isidro, Naguilian, La Union. The seminar was sponsored by the DTI Provincial Office through the initiative of the Cacao Growers Association of San Isidro, Naguilian. Barangay San Isidro has chosen Cacao as their One Barangay One Project (OBOP), as a commodity to be developed to create added source of livelihood in their community. Their initiative had the full support of LGU Naguilian, DTI and the Department of Agriculture which also sent Mr. David Rondal, Regional Focal Person on High Value Commercial Development Program (HVCDP) as one of the resource speakers. Mr. Rondal discussed the Cacao farm Establishment and distributed vegetable seeds and Foliar fertilizers, while Mr. Garcia discussed the post-harvest aspect particularly on Cacao Bean Fermentation, Drying and Storage. Mr. Garcia demonstrated hands-on Cacao Fermentation and Cacao Pruning. LGU Naguilian has been supportive to their project by providing them Cacao Grinder and Melanger to start with. They already have started producing their own tablea and expanding their cacao farms.