Coffee production seen to drip below 30,000 MT
Local coffee production is expected to decline this year as farmers contend with the effects of El Niño and rising production costs, an industry group said.
Manila, Philippines - The Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PCBI) has warned that local coffee production is expected to fall short of 30,000 metric tons (MT) this year. The decline is attributed to the combined impact of El Niño and escalating production costs. PCBI chairperson Pacita Juan disclosed that rising global temperatures have forced coffee varieties, which once thrived in low-lying areas, to be cultivated at higher elevations.
PCBI is actively promoting the use of climate-resilient coffee varieties, such as Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta, which are more resistant to adverse weather conditions than the traditional Arabica variety. Arabica coffee farmers may need to relocate to higher altitudes, as areas below 1,300 meters could become too warm for cultivation.
The PCBI is also encouraging farmers to utilize organic inputs to curtail expenses and decrease the reliance on petroleum-based fertilizers, which have risen in price over the past few months. The PCBI has been partnering with local governments and the Department of Agriculture to provide fertilizer assistance to coffee farmers.
Despite local production meeting around 40 percent of domestic demand, the Philippines continues to import coffee beans to satisfy the growing demand.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
