Department of Agriculture, Nestle tie up to develop local coffee industry

MANILA, Philippines - Nestle Philippines, Inc. (NPI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to revive and strengthen the coffee industry.

In a ceremony held at Nestle’s Experimental and Demonstration Farm in Tagum, Davao City, Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap and NPI chairman and chief executive officer Nandu Nandkishore signed an agreement wherein Nestle would share its coffee growing technology with Filipino farmers while the DA would provide the necessary financial program to help farmers in terms of infrastructure, post-harvest facilities and extension services.

Yap said the DA has committed P150 million to a joint development program with the National Coffee Development Board to rejuvenate and rehabilitate about 4,000 hectares of poorly maintained coffee farms and to plant another 1,000 hectates to several varieties of coffee.

Nandkishore expressed optimism that with Nestle’s commitment, the Philippines would be able to regain its coffee self-sufficiency status in the next five to 10 years.

Nestle is the manufacturer of Nescafe.