Department of Agriculture chief tells plant bureau: Where are coffee seedlings?

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to account for millions of missing coffee seedlings following disclosure from a farmers’ group that funds were allocated for the revitalization of the industry.

Based on information given by members of the Philippine Coffee Board, the Department of Agriculture has allocated a budget for the distribution of millions of coffee seedlings nationwide through the BPI, according to farmers’ group Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. president Danilo Fausto.

“These (millions of coffee seedlings) were supposed to be delivered by a few certified seedling producers and we are looking for those trees. Where are they? If that is true, then by now, these (coffee) trees are already bearing fruits,” Fausto said.

“Secretary Kiko (Laurel) is now getting the BPI to (conduct an) inventory and find out where these millions of trees are, as claimed by the Coffee Board,” he noted.

According to Fausto, between 80 and 85 percent of the country’s coffee consumption is being imported.

“Very few multinationals are monopolizing the coffee business,” he said.

At the same time, Fausto said that during the consultation with Laurel, the local stakeholders proposed the establishment of an institute in a coffee growing area.

“Before there was in Laguna and Cavite but Secretary Laurel said let’s do the institute of school somewhere where there are a lot of coffee and I think it is now in Sultan Kudarat,” he said.

Fausto said that the country needs to plant five million coffee trees yearly to be able to boost supply in the country.

“We need credit access and coffee cooperatives who would like to put up their own instant coffee. They have the capacity to produce instant coffee so you will have instant coffee with a Filipino brand,” he said.

He added that a trading hub should be established in all regions, including warehouses.

“Coffee can be stored in warehouses over a long period of time,” he said.

Fausto said that the Philippines should increase coffee production to at least one ton per hectare from the current 300 kilos to lessen dependence on importation.

“One coffee