CMU holds techno-demo ceremonial planting on coffee

Central Mindanao University held a techno-demo ceremonial planting on coffee, in partnership with PhilCafe, last February 24, 2021, at the university extension techno-demo area.

The ceremony established the inception of Philcafe in the university and its goal to be one of the top coffee producers in the entire Mindanao.

Dr. Jose Alexander C. Abella, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, said, “It is the CMU’s vision to be a catalyst of making coffee as one of the major crops in the province, not only in the province but for the entire Mindanao as well.” He highlighted that this ceremony spawns a hopeful journey for the university in the years to come.

The Coffee techno-demo project was spearheaded by Dr. Estrella Y. Dacillo, the University Extension Director, together with her teammates from different units under the Extension Development Office. The project aims to provide a source of income and employment to the university’s neighboring communities.

“Through this project, we would be able to help our neighboring IPs and our other extension clients, and would give us a chance to help eradicate hunger through this livelihood,” Dr. Dacillo said. The project involves the preparation of germinated coffee seedlings and the proper ways of planting coffee.

Ms. Donnabelle Celebrado, the representative from Philcafe Davao, in her pep talk, shared and encouraged everyone to learn from the techno-demo project for coffee. She said that this partnership’s objectives include establishing a demo-farm in the university and providing a space for students and partner communities.

“So, we are expecting that they will be coming here to learn something from the farm in terms of managing and establishing coffee,” Ms. Celebrado said. She also highlighted that Philcafe aims to improve the quality and production of coffee in the Philippines.

To demonstrate the proper ways of planting coffee, Mr. Jesus C.  Mabalo from the Techno-Demo Office executed and explained the importance of materials such as the appearance of the exact age of seedlings to be planted, vermicasts, and soil depths for coffee planting. The ceremony ended with planting coffee seedlings. (MDBravo)