From Seeds of Love; Couple Builds Cacao Business in Ifugao

enterprise was able to reinforce its strengths, resolve its weaknesses and identify areas for improvement. Further, a strategic planning workshop was conducted on May 23, 2008 with the Calzado Management Consultancy to come up with a draft vision, mission and growth strategy that reflects the TAWIDCRAFT’s legacy of fine quality work and unique designs, excellent management skills and commitment to customer satisfaction.

In 2010, the company availed of another SETUP assistance with the project entitled “Sterling Tableware: A New Direction in Silvercrafts Manufacturing for Tawid Crafts.” This project focused on the provision of technology interventions to enable the firm to diversify products to include sterling silver tableware, increase production By: DOST PSTC-Ifugao because anyone could enjoy the fruits of farming and The Love Nature produce seedlings out of their harvest. With their passion and determination in farming, they were able to increase and nurture more seedlings, despite experiencing setbacks, such as forest fires. Their seedling production has become part of their farm activities and they eventually succeeded in reforesting the barren portions of their farm to include 600 various fruit bearing trees. and expand market outlets.

COVID-19 may be the invisible enemy that is slowly tearing down and burying the dreams of non-essential business workers but this did not deter TAWIDCRAFT. Instead, it is now more determined to find ways to gain back the demand for the industry and in turn maintain the jobs of its workers.

TAWIDCRAFT continues to advertise its products in several local bazaars and is looking into various options on marketing strategies to reach a wider set of customers. At present, it is strengthening its online marketing platforms during the ‘new normal’. For now, the company can be reached through their social media accounts but it will be launching its own website, tawidsilver.com soon. // DOST-CAR S&T Promotion

From Seeds of Love; Couple Builds Cacao Business in Ifugao Agriculture and the love of nature brings much (DOST) thru its Provincial Science and Technology Center wonder since it is a natural therapy that saves us (PSTC) in Ifugao, upon learning of their initiatives and from stress in our daily lives. Thus, love of nature and their passion in agriculture, encouraged them to go full farming should not start when one is about to retire blast into cacao farming. Unit The Department of Science and Technology backyard gardening, even more so, in the new normal. This project was a “dream come true” for PSTC-Ifugao since it had been pushing for the The Love Nature Farm; A cacao seedling booms into development of the cacao industry in Ifugao. business PSTC–Ifugao had earlier implemented support Farm in Mabatobato, Lamut, The firm was then enrolled as a beneficiary Ifugao was built out of Mr. under the Consultancy for Agricultural Productivity Lemuel and Edna Norial’s Enhancement (CAPE) in 2015 to help fully develop their love for nature and farming four (4) hectare farm. Different varieties of cacao seeds and have long made from Davao for seedling propagation were provided by agriculture their way of life. the DOST consultant aside from the technical assistance It started when improvement. Among these are: (a) Intercropping the couple was able to of cacao between existing crops; (b) establishment successfully grow cacao. of cacao nursery; (c) intercropping of different They realized the business vegetables and early maturing crops in the open opportunities in growing areas of the farm; and (d) vegetating the area that will cacao and decided to serve as temporary and as well as permanent shades. activities in Ifugao to promote cacao development. that include suggestions and recommendations for

For a more effective knowledge transfer to CAPE beneficiaries, the consultant jointly implemented with DOST a techno-demo/training on Proper Soil Sampling and Analysis on June 11, 2016 and on Asexual Propagation on November 28- 29, 2016. Both trainings were supported by the firm.

The sweet taste of the fruit of their labor and passion came when the volume of their harvest started to grow. As a gratification of being the “early birds” in the cacao industry, the couple’s farm is continuously being promoted in the locality. Social media is also helping much in the promotion.

Being passionate in farming and to help promote investments in agriculture, the couple accepts activities in their farm and willingly share their success stories. PSTC-Ifugao, as part of the implementation of the CAPE program, then conducted a seminar on “Cacao Farm Management cum Cacao Farmers Field Day” in the farm on July 16, 2018 for the 2018 CAPE beneficiaries.

Another activity was also conducted for the 2019 CAPE beneficiaries entitled “Training on Asexual Propagation cum Field Visit” on December 13, 2019.

Feeling fulfilled and encouraged especially with the positive feedback of people, the couple continues to develop their farm. Proudly, Edna says she counted more than 5,000 cacao trees in their farm and cacao seedlings are now available for sale in the farm for cacao enthusiasts. Also available are other fruit crops such as jack fruit, coconut, guyabano, banana and others.

One ingredient for the farm’s success is also the combination of Lemuel’s love for farming that is complemented by Edna’s love in taking care of the harvest, processing activities as well as promotion activities.

To expand from production to processing, there is a need for cocoa product development. The couple’s initiative in getting ideas from trainings and lectures, advocacies and testimonies, networking, on – line research and other outputs has so far, been rewarded. “Do – it – Yourself” is never new to the firm. Applicable knowledge acquired is properly laid out in their processing table to help perfect their products. Taste tests are made to get the crucial remarks and feedbacks from people that help improve the product. Others firms may have come out earlier with their products through the encouragement of cocoa producers outside the province but Love Nature Farm has their edge since they are assured of sustainable and ready supply from their farm.

With the firm in its product launching stage, DOST will once again assist them, this time in the label design of their Cacao Tablea Puro. The developed design would surely boost their market promotion and the trust and confidence of consumers in the product.

Further, other products are now being conceptualized where the new addition to the Cacao Tablea Puro is the “Chocoffee”, a blend of cacao-pure chocolate and robusta coffee.

Meanwhile, PSTC–Ifugao continues its advocacy in developing the cacao industry in Ifugao and brought the Ifugao Cocoa Association members to Tabuk, Kalinga to attend the “Technology Forum on Chocolate Processing” and “Technology Forum on Coffee and Cacao Organic Production and Postharvest Facilities” during the 2017 Regional Science and Technology Fair on October 12-13, 2017. Success stories during a testimonial shared by Mr. Grover Rosit of Rosit Cacao Farms in Davao during his visit to PSTC– Ifugao on November 12, 2018 was attended as well. //