Conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7) High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP, in collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) and the Local Government of Astorias (LGU-Asturias), the cacao growers underwent intensive cacao production training which include modules on cacao cultivation – from planting to effective pest and disease management. They also learned on simple record-keeping and on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).

Equipping them with these rudiments, local cacao production in the municipality will increase and improve production yields and increase income.

A practical field demonstration was also part of the training, at it demonstrate proper care and maintenance of cacao trees, along with correct soil collection techniques for analysis. Proper grafting we’re also taught to the participants.

Hipolito Gekin, a Barangay Kagawad and member of the Manguiao United Farmers Association, expressed his deep appreciation for the training. “Sauna, pinasagdan ra among mga tanom nga cacao, amo ra balikon og mamungana,” he shared. “Pero karon nga nakaapil na kami niining training sa cacao, daghan kaayo kog nakat-onan nga kinahanglan gyud diay magpruning, mangabono ug ang pag-atiman nga di masakit ang cacao. Amoa gyud ning eapply sa among cacao-wan sir, daghang salamat sa DA sa ilang gipahigayon nga training.”

(Before, we often neglected our cacao plants and to return only when it started to bear fruit. Having attended the training, I’ve learned so much – like the importance of pruning, fertilizing, and properly caring for the cacao to prevent diseases. We will definitely apply these learnings to our cacao farms. Thank you very much to the DA for conducting this training)
With the combined expertise of the training personnel, including OPA Cebu HVCDP Focal Victor Geralde, cacao production in Asturias is expected to see significant growth and flourishing yields in the coming years.