Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

Sagada aims to be PH's Arabica coffee capital
by Victor O. Bolcio Jr (April 23, 2013)

The 'Sagada Gold', a coffee brand produced by the Sagada Coffee Growers and Processors Cooperative, is now gaining popularity among foreign tourists visiting the culture-rich and biodiverse highland town.



The municipality of Sagada is aiming to increase their Arabica coffee production to make Sagada as the country’s Arabica coffee capital. However, because of the traditional depulping using mortar and pestle and other manual methods, the quality of their beans are downgraded.



Recently, PHilMech conducted technology demonstration introducing the PHilMech Coffee Depulper to help improve the quality of the Arabica coffee beans in Sagada. The Technology Management and Training Division of PHilMech conducted the techno-demo at the Sagada Coffee Center in Sagada, Mountain Province on March 19, 2013 to showcase the technical and economic benefits of the coffee depulping machine including its proper use and maintenance.



Representatives from the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (MAO), Sagada Arabica Coffee Council (SACC), Sagada coffee farmers cluster and a local agricultural machinery manufacturer participated in the training course.



The Chairman of the Sagada Arabica Coffee Council (SACC) Mr. Vincent A. Andawi discussed the background, thrust and current activities of the council. The SACC is composed of local government unit (20%), local private business entrepreneurs (20%) and coffee farmers (60%).



Mr. Roderic O. Vereña of PHilMech presented the overview of the technology demonstration activity. He emphasized the importance of the commercialization of PHilMech coffee depulper technology in coffee berry processing. He explained how the coffee depulper was conceptualized, designed and developed taking into account studies conducted by PHilMech technical divisions on the coffee supply chain and technical assessment of the existing coffee depulping machines available in the market.



Engr. Victor O. Bolcio Jr. presented the traditional postharvest practices in coffee industry, starting from methods of harvesting, depulping, fermentation, drying, hulling, grading and finally roasting. He presented the recommended methods of coffee processing based from the evaluation conducted by the research and development groups in PHilMech. He also identified the specifications and parts of the coffee depulper, actual clearance adjustment (depending on the size of coffee cherries). Actual depulping of coffee was demonstrated.



After the technology demonstration, Mr. Vereña briefed the Montañosa Research and Development Center (MRDC), the representative from the local manufacturer of agri-machinery in Sagada, on PHilMech licensing protocol of generated technologies available for commercialization.