A cold noon breeze brushed through sun-tanned faces that brimmed with silent anticipation for a sweeter future brought by the bittersweet criollo.
[AYUNGON, NEGROS ORIENTAL, February 4, 2025]—Aiming to support the development of the cacao industry in the Negros Island, Central Philippines State University (CPSU) and private sector partners convened with around 80 farmers of Barangay Banban, Ayungon.
CPSU President, Dr. Aladino C. Moraca; Ramon Uy Foundry and Machine Shop Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ramon Uy, Sr.; and Heirloom cacao farmer, Christopher “Chris” Fadriga, visited the far-flung barangay for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Asosasyon sa Katawhan sa Lamigan Ug Banban nga Nagkahiliusa, INC.
The CPSU team, with its partners, endeavored to traverse through the remote area and meet with the farmers to introduce the Criollo cacao farming technology developed and enriched by Mr. Chris Fadriga—expressing the intention of the team to holistically support the farmers in establishing and maintaining household-based or community-based Criollo cacao production areas.
Mr. Fadriga introduced the Criollo Cacao as the locally known cacao variety called “Cacao Bisaya,” which is prominent for having white beans deemed with higher palatable qualities, earning a gold rating from the esteemed International Cocoa Awards of the Cocoa of Excellence Programme in 2021.
CPSU and partners conveyed their belief in the stellar potential of grooming an artisanal chocolate industry to the farmers; this projection was brought by having the now well-sought heritage cacao variety by cacao-producing countries of antiquity like Mexico, chocolate and candy-making giants like Meiji Chocolate, and foreign cacao researchers, thriving in Negrense soil.
Mr. Uy, a businessman and long-time CPSU community and extension projects partner, financed the procurement of 30,000 cacao seedlings from the Banban-based farmers association, which will be used as materials in growing more criollo cacao trees under the care of Mr. Fadriga—relaying his intention to help in vitalizing the said industry by providing growers with a stable market and to cultivate a sustainable means of living for the farmers through procuring more cacao Bisaya seedlings, beans, and chocolate from the farmers.
According to the signed MOU, CPSU is expected to: (1) facilitate the conduct of research on practical and appropriate technologies to further improve the productivity performance of cacao; (2) empower students and faculty in the design and development of value chain approach for cacao production; (3) collaborate with parties in implementing community-based or household-based research projects aligned with cacao industry development; (4) work with the association officers and members in the propagation and upgrading of cacao varieties; (5) provide technical assistance to the members of the association or partner communities; and (6) facilitate in the conduct of monitoring and evaluation encouraging the participation and involvement of students, faculty, and communities.
CPSU is committed to extending the knowledge of its professors and instructors in providing technical support in the establishment and maintenance of household-based or community-based Criollo cacao production areas with emphasis on the strict use of organic farming in the production process as part of the shared commitment of the CPSU and its partners in advocating for organic farming to promote sustainable agricultural practices and health and wellness through the production and consumption of organic products and more effective value-adding projects for the heritage and artisanal Criollo cacao.
The farmers also raised their concerns and presented their agricultural practices to show their interest in cultivating the once-taken-for-granted cacao bisaya trees in their backyards and farmlands—a simple yet meaningful manifestation of their enthusiasm in the newly formed partnership and hope for a shared better future for Negrense farmers to come.
