Davao: Davao Region has reaffirmed its position as the country's cacao capital, producing 7,807 metric tons (MT) and accounting for 72 percent of national output in the same year, the Department of Agriculture-Davao Region (DA-11) announced Tuesday. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the region also ranked first in cacao-harvested area in 2024, with 19,969 hectares or 60 percent of the national total.

According to Philippines News Agency, among the provinces, Davao del Sur led with 4,352 MT, followed by Davao del Norte (1,520 MT), Davao Oriental (552 MT), Davao Occidental (707 MT), and Davao de Oro (676 MT). The region also accounted for 80 percent of the country's total cacao production in 2022 and 2023, or 8,031.97 and 8,024.02 metric tons, respectively.

'This is a testament to the hard work of our farmers and the strength of our cacao sector,' DA-11 said in a news release. The Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Investment Portfolio of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) envisions that Davao Region will remain the country's cacao capital at least until 2030. It aims to have 80 percent of cacao production follow traceable and high-quality fermentation protocols, processing them into premium value-added products for local and export markets.

However, the report also identified key constraints, including limited access to quality inputs and planting materials, low cacao bean supply, farm management gaps, labor shortages, and postharvest capacity challenges. Priority investments include establishing a regional cacao development hub, farmers' knowledge center, and trading center.

Proposed support projects include a community cacao nursery network, farmer field schools on cacao farm management, cacao farm rehabilitation and cluster expansion, community-managed fermentation and drying centers, cacao value chain enterprise development, and skills training for industry workers.