Have you heard that we are running out of chocolate?

That was the shocking news shared during The Philippine Cacao Industry Cluster Update last September 1 at Panda Tea Garden in Tagbilaran City. Statistics say that the global cacao production is going down, but the demand is fast increasing. We have been experiencing a steady growing global demand for cacao; having emerging markets like China, India, Indonesia, Brazil and Russia craving for more chocolate.

 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in collaboration with Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), The Philippines Cocoa Council and more… got together as the Bohol Cacao Team to face the 2022 Cacao challenge: Put Bohol in the Cacao Map and fight this Chocolate shortage.

In the Philippines, according to the Department of Agriculture, the average annual cocoa consumption is 50,000MT but the local supply is only around 12,000MT. The chocolate consumption continues to rise and is forecasted to double to 100,000MT in 5 years.

This massive shortage has given rise to the Philippine Cacao Challenge, which commits the Philippines to produce 100,000MT by the year 2022 and onwards.

A competitive and sustainable Philippine Cacao industry

According to the resource speaker Mr. Valente Tutor, chairperson of the Philippine Cacao Industry Council: “The focus now is on Mindanao, which accounts for 90% of the Philippine cacao production, with 80% coming from the Davao Region alone.” Central Visaya produces only 1% and we need to do more if we want to contribute and participate in the Cacao value chain. Bohol can be a potential producer of cocoa, the climatic conditions and soil characteristics are conducive to growing cocoa, making it a potential very lucrative business. “Currently, there are 28,000 hectares of land are already developed for cacao production, lesser than the 100,000 hectare target.” Turtur says.

The Bohol Cacao Council

More has to be done to reach the targets set for the next 3 years, the private sector needs to realize the opportunities in the cacao industry and take the initiative. That’s why representatives from cooperatives, associations, nursery growers, processors and farmers formed the Bohol Cacao Private Sector Leads to help to promote, strengthen and expand our local chocolate market. The members are the following:

• from the Cooperatives:
  • Carmen Samahang Nayon
  • Bohol Coffee and Cacao Growers Carmen
  • Bohol Bayanihan MPC, Talibon
• from the Cacao Associations
  • KAPUNUNGAN SA BOL-ANONG ORGANIKONG MAG-UUMA (KBOOM)
  • Bohol Sustainable Cacao Farming Movement
  • Catawngon Farmers Association, Loon
• from the Cacao Nursery Growers:
  • Cecelia De Leon, Gersal’s Cacao and Coffee Farm
  • Duke Minoza, Buena Venturada Farm
  • Bern Karaan, Fort Justine Farm
• from the Cacao Processors
  • Dalareich Polot, Tagbilaran City
  • Canjulao League of Women, Jagna
  • Gina Solis, Aurora Tableya Loay
• from the Cacao individual farmers:
  • Paolo Rigotti, Dimiao
  • Alex Salada, Guindulman
  • Kag. Jun Diezon, Clarin

Let’s save the chocolate

In order to keep satisfying our chocolate cravings we need to increase productivity level, expand production areas and move up in the value chain. The objectives are to increase productivity by 40% yearly, improve the quality of our products to increase their value and improve the earnings for our farmers. With a positive attitude towards sustainable cacao production in the country, the Philippines can compete globally in the world’s supply of cocoa products. A lot has to be done and 2022 is just behind the corner, but this lack of chocolate it may also be great opportunity for Bohol and we are ready to take this challenge.