CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental— To most Filipino coffee lovers, coffee became a part of their culture and lifestyle; but to a farmer like Ms. Gilda Gayao, coffee is a way of living. She is just one of the farmers in Northern Mindanao who are in search of the right brew towards abundance.

Committed to supporting the booming coffee industry in the region, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) conducted a Training on Coffee Production, Post-Harvest Handling and Processing. The said training specifically aims to provide participants the skills and technology practices about cultural management for coffee production and post-harvest handling operations and processing.

There are 30 participants who have participated in the training. It was composed of farmers and processors coming from selected municipalities, to wit.: Medina, Sugbongcogon, Salay, Gingoog City, Balingasag, Claveria, Villanueva, Jasaan, Lagonglong, Tagoloan, Opol, El Salvador City and from the Provincial Agriculture Office of Misamis Oriental.

The training was graced by one of the successful coffee farmers in the region, Councilor Cornelio G. Eraya, Jr., the owner of the Eraya Coffee farm. Eraya who was tasked to discuss the seed toseed production of coffee have shared his best practices and innovation.

“ I really love what they have shared in the training, their shared experiences and challenges have ignited my passion to pursue this farming venture,”said Gilda Gayao, a Coffee Technician , and a participant of the training.

Likewise, the training has also stirred the agripreneur side of the participants through a topic on Risk Management in Farming from Mr. Efren C. Macario, Admin Officer of ATI and a successful farmer, owning Kataltalunan Farm . Also, a topic on processing and value-adding was given by Ms. Imelda P. Mendoza, a successful entrepreneur owner of IPM Diversified Farm and president of Kape Maramag RIC Federation. While Mr. Proceso Cortejos, take them into a Coffee Technician took them into a bigger enterprise through sharing to them their experience in Nestle Philippines.

Eraya Coffee Farm, IPM farm, Kape Maramag and Katatalunan Farm are learning sites of ATI in the region.

The training was held on February 26-28, 2018 at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) formerly Misamis Oriental State College of Agricultural Technology in Claveria, Misamis Oriental(from the reports of Moisa Nina Catiil).