The University of the Philippines Open University-Faculty of Management and Development Studies (UPOU-FMDS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Mindanao State University (MSU)-Sulu for a project titled “Enhancing the Sustainability, Profitability, and Inclusiveness of Coffee Value Chains Involving IP Communities: The Case of Kiangan, Ifugao and Patikul, Sulu.” It was signed by the UPOU Chancellor, Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, and MSU-Sulu Chancellor, Prof. Nagder Abdurahman with the Project Leader from UPOU, Dr. Joane V. Serrano, and Co-Project Leader from UPLB, Dr. Sherry B. Marasigan as witnesses. The project is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).
This project aims to enhance the sustainability, profitability, and inclusiveness of the coffee value chain of indigenous communities in the Philippines (Kiangan, Ifugao and Patikul, Sulu). By strengthening their participation and competitiveness, these communities can increase economic opportunities like employment, income generation, profitability, and marketability of local coffee varieties. The goal is to develop sustainable indigenous coffee-producing communities for livelihood improvement and national development.
On 22 to 26 October 2024, the UPOU-FMDS project team conducted its first site visit to Patikul, Sulu— one of the project sites for courtesy visits and initial data collection.
The site visit was participated in by the UPOU FMDS Dean and Project Leader, Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Project Technical Assistant, Ms. Mary Grace Q. Campollo, and Project Resource Persons, Ms. Janele Ann C. Belegal and Project Consultant, Ms. Cherry Rose Urriquia, together with the project team from MSU-Sulu , Project Collaborator, Professor Alnajir Bari, and Project Technical Assistant, Dr. Abdurajik S. Dansalan. The team was assisted by the Instructor Fatima Sheirene M. Marajuli, Instructor Neriza J. Kiram, Instructor Jenny P. Kibtiani Jr., aProf. Ridzmalyn A. Bari, and Assoc. Prof. Mherhama M. Sammah.
Courtesy Visits
On 23 October 2024, the project team had a consecutive courtesy visit to the Office of the Chancellor of Mindanao State University-Sulu, Office of the Governor, and Office of the Mayor where the team was welcomed by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Rafael A. Regellana, Ed. D., Provincial Administrator, Mr. Erwin Q. Tan, and Municipal Human Resource Management Officer, Mr. Salip Sakib Alih. They expressed their warm welcome and gratitude to the team for choosing Patikul, Sulu as one of the project sites and MSU-Sulu as the partner HEI as they dig deeper into research and development.
Key Informant Interview with Key Officials of Coffee Industry
On the same day, the project team conducted a key informant interview with the key officials involved in the coffee industry of Patikul, Sulu at MSU-Sulu Training Center. The participants are the representative of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Mr. Mudjamier S. Hailid, Senior Agriculturist of Office of Provincial Agriculture (OPAg), Ms. Virginia P. Arreza, Chairman of Coffee Federation, Mr. Muddazer Hailanie, Member of Kankitap Consumers Cooperative, Mr. Alnidzmar Tahur, and a representative from Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism (MTIT), Mr. Mojarni Jalali. The key informant interview highlights the coffee industry’s opportunities and challenges as well as the initiative programs of the local government of Paikul, Sulu to revitalize the industry and enhance the coffee value chain.
Focus Group Discussion with Coffee Producing Barangay Representatives
Focus group discussion (FGD) with barangay chairpersons and/or barangay representatives of coffee producing barangays took place on 24 October 2024 at MSU-Sulu Training Center. The FGD was attended by Ms. Rujia H. Malaya and Mr. Nijar H. Omar of Barangay Buhanginan, Ms. Purna Abduhari of Barangay Bungkaung, Mr. Ahajuli A. Ahajani of Barangay Kabbon Takas, Mr. Basil S. Yusop of Barangay Panglayahan, Mr. Delmar Ismael of Barangay Kan-Ague, and Mr. Basil Pandio of Barangay Danag. The discussion put emphasis on the importance of coffee in the daily life of the Tausug community. While coffee became an integral part of their lifestyle, this significantly contributes to their livelihood— an income generating activity. The FGD also highlights the needs of the coffee farming households in specific barangays of Patikul, Sulu.
Value Chain Mapping with Coffee Farmers
Half of the day was spent for a value chain mapping activity participated in by coffee farmers from coffee producing barangays such as Brgy. Kan-Ague, Brgy. Panglayahan, Brgy. Bungkaung, Brgy. Buhanginan, Brgy. Maligay, Brgy. Danag, Brgy. Kabbon Takas, and Brgy. Latih in Patikul, Sulu. This activity maps out the sequence of activities indicating its actors and resources inside the coffee value chain of the project site. The output of the activity will serve as the basis for preliminary analysis of the project and development of data gathering tools of the research project.
Cooperative and Farm Visits
The project team was given the chance to explore and observe the cooperative equipment and facilities for processing coffee last 25 October 2024. Some of the harvested coffee beans of the Tausug community were processed and marketed in Kankitap Consumers Cooperative.
Coffee plantations situated even on the side of the road are undeniably common for Patikul, Sulu. Coffee farms were also visited during the trip to personally gather information from the on-site farmers.
This project activity ended with the visit of the team to significant coffee producing barangays. The rich culture and history of coffee were debunked through coffee table discussions with barangay officers. Looking forward, this project could contribute to the significant development of the coffee industry of Patikul, Sulu.
Written by: Mary Grace Campollo• Edited by: Larry N. Cruz
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