IN PHOTOS | The Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7) represented by Regional Technical Director Wilberto O. Castillo gave an inspirational message to the participants

of the 2024 Agri-Fishery Learning Series with topic on All About Cacao today, April 26, 2024 at Golden Prince Hotel, Cebu City.

Sponsored by the Philippine Inno-Venture Agri Cooperative (PIVAC), the participants were mostly cacao entrepreneurs, farmers and enthusiasts, who are eager to learn, venture and transform their land into cacao production.

In his message, Director Castillo, commended the organizer (PIVAC) for holding a seminar on cacao, as they saw the positive side and importance of the agri industry. He said, cacao is considered as a priority and an emerging commodity for its high value, particularly its beans, which is the main ingredient for chocolates.

He said, there is high demand of cacao beans in the region, but can’t supply needed volume of the cacao beans because the production is lacking.

Cacao-based companies in Cebu and even small-scale tableya makers, need to source their needed cacao from Mindanao, he said.

“If our region can only provide the needed volume of cacao beans by these companies, our farmers will surely have an income. But because we can’t supply the cacao beans, companies have to import from other regions,” he said.

Director Castillo, encouraged and enticed the participants to plant as many cacao trees that they can plant to make the region to make cacao a blooming industry and be the cacao hub and be the best cacao producers.