TUBAJON, Province of Dinagat Islands — Thirty-one coconut farmers from Tubajon and Libjo are now ready to diversify their farms after completing a three-day Coconut-Cacao Farming System Training organized by the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) on September 23–25, 2025 held at the Municipal Office of Tubajon.

The three-day activity introduced cacao as a promising intercrop for coconut farms, providing participants with new livelihood opportunities while supporting the growth of the coconut sector in the Caraga Region. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and hands-on demonstrations, farmers acquired practical techniques in cacao nursery establishment, farm management, and post-harvest handling.

Resource persons from leading government agencies guided the sessions, including Mr. Mark Joseph Morder of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region 13, Engr. Joey Carillo of DA-RFO 13, and Mr. Melanio Catayas Jr. of the City Agriculture and Veterinary Department of Butuan City. They shared insights on CFIDP priorities, the current cacao industry landscape, and modern production technologies suitable for smallholder farmers.

Participants also applied their skills in a farm practicum at Mr. Jimmy Parcon’s cacao farm in Sta. Cruz, Tubajon, performing activities such as field layout, pruning, fertilization, side-grafting, harvesting, fermentation, and drying.

Through the training, farmers gained not only technical skills in cacao production but also practical knowledge in integrating cacao as an intercrop to improve farm productivity and income stability. They learned proper farm planning, crop management, and post-harvest processing, equipping them to adopt sustainable practices that can enhance both their coconut and cacao production.