The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Regional Training Center XII (RTC XII) conducted a farmer-level training on coconut-cacao farming system for 25 coconut farmers from September 20-22, 2023 at the ATI-RTC XII compound in San Felipe, Tantangan, South Cotabato.

The training was part of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), which was developed to set the directions and policies that will benefit the coconut farmers and the development of the coconut industry in the next 50 years.

The participants learned about the different aspects of coconut-cacao farming, including crop establishment, selection of planting materials, pest and disease management, harvesting, and rehabilitation of cacao trees.

The training also included hands-on activities, such as planting coconut and cacao seedlings, pruning cacao trees, and harvesting cacao beans.

The CFIDP is expected to improve the productivity and income of coconut farmers, and contribute to the development of the coconut industry in the Philippines.