Ilocos Norte farmers told to plant coffee

LAOAG CITY, September 1 (PIA) – The provincial government of Ilocos Norte has encouraged the local farmers to plant more coffee seedlings considering the crop’s high demand in the national and world markets. Edwin Cariño, the head of the Special Projects and Development Office (SPDO), said the provincial government is giving assistance to farmers who are interested to grow coffee.

“The provincial government will not only give coffee seedlings to interested farmers but will also provide technical assistance through our provincial agriculture office,” Cariño said.

“The growing of coffee in the province is easy as it only requires minimal water supply requirement,” he added. Cariño cited that the market demand of coffee remains high in the national level saying that the latest data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed that a Filipino consumes an average of 1.2 kilos of coffee annually.

“Some farmers have already expressed their interest in this endeavor and we are encouraging more residents to maximize their marginal lands for agricultural purposes,” he said.

Governor Imee Marcos commented that the farmers’ venture on growing coffee will enhance agricultural productivity and will create another alternative source of livelihood in the province. (Freddie G. Lazaro/PIA-1, Ilocos Norte)