Lamitan City, Basilan — The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center XII (ATI-RTC XII), under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), held a comprehensive Farmer-Level Training on the Coconut-Coffee Farming System for 30 BARMM farmers from August 19-21, 2024. Hosted at the Lamitan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (LARBECO) compound, this program aimed to enhance the participants’ skills in coffee cultivation as an income-generating addition to their coconut farming.

Chairman of LARBECO, Mr. Ibrahim P. Uto, welcomed the participants, encouraging them to leverage this training for sustainable growth. Engr. Mokles P. Buisan, CFIDP BARMM’s Alternate Focal Person, outlined the training objectives of income growth, poverty alleviation, and social equity, and discussed essential techniques for coffee variety selection, planting, spacing, and harvesting practices.

Mr. Uto, also a former nursery supervisor with PCA, shared valuable insights on the history and development of coffee farming in the Philippines, covering soil and climatic requirements, maintenance practices, fertilization, and pest control. Meanwhile, MAFAR-Isabela City OIC-Research Outreach Specialist Superintendent Abdullah A. Haruddain provided a detailed discussion on effective coffee harvesting techniques.

Provincial Director II of MAFAR Basilan, Hanie Muadz A. Junaban, delivered an inspirational message, commending Basilan’s potential as a coffee-producing region and introduced current MAFAR programs available for farmers’ benefit. PCA Basilan’s Division Chief, Diosdado A. Espinosa Jr., also extended his support, encouraging participants to reach out to PCA for assistance with their farming needs.

Facilitated by CFIDP’s Mokles P. Buisan, Mubarak M. H. Salik, and Merzaq A. Ulama, the training equipped farmers with practical knowledge to integrate coffee as a profitable venture alongside coconut farming, supporting sustainable agricultural development in the region.