DA-XI conducts blended training on Cacao fermentation and beans grading

Davao City — Taking advantage of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar’s declaration of Davao City as the country’s cacao capital, DA in Davao Region conducts blended learning on Cacao fermentation and beans grading. 

The blended learning covers School-on-the-Air (SOA) aired over DXRR AM’s MagUmaSenso Ta agri-based radio program and series of Techno Fora in major cacao-producing areas in the region. 

The SOA which runs from August 10 to September 2020 discussed standard process in fermentation and grading of cacao beans based on cut test and bean count including sanitation and hygiene. 

“The SOA is our way of providing our farmers distance learning especially in this time of pandemic and limited mass gathering,” said DA Regional Executive Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. 

Oñate said providing farmers the technical know-how on cacao fermentation and grading will level-up their production into a more valuable enterprise. 

“It will also link small cacao farmers to big cooperatives that source out fermented beans to meet the volume and quality required by their regular buyers mostly cocoa and chocolate processors,” Oñate said. 

Meanwhile, during face-to-face Techno Forum with selected farmer-participants High Value Crops Development Program ( HVCDP) Richjam Abellaneda and Ludy May Malto fielded questions not only on fermentation and grading but also on production, fertilization, and pests and diseases management. 

The techno forum formed part of the SOA graduation conducted in Davao City and cities of Tagum and Panabo in Davao del Norte. From September 28-October 2, techno fora and SOA culmination were conducted in Asuncion, Davao del Norte; Montevista and Laak, Davao de Oro; and Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental.

A total of 500 farmers graduated from the SOA on Cacao Fermentation and Bean Grading. The Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information (RAFIS) spearheaded the activity both on-air and on-ground.-Newsline.ph