The Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) of the Philippines has allocated P500 million (US$11 million) to fund the pilot year of the Cacao Double-Up Program (CDUP) designed to double Mindanao’s current cacao production. Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines after Luzon, measuring 293 miles north to south and 423 miles east to west.

 

The completed budget itemizing allocation for all concerned agencies under the CDUP and the identification of sites where cacao will be cultivated will be released next month.

 

The island of Mindanao is home to about 90% of the Philippines’ total cacao acreage, or 18,000 hectares, producing approximately 10,000 tons per year.

 

Beginning in 2016 under the CDUP plan, 17.85 million seedlings will be planted through intercropping with coconut trees with the goal of raising production to 20,000 tons per year. By 2020, the plan is targeting the planting of 100 million cacao trees across a total of 200,000 hectares.

 

Even without CDUP involvement, the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. recorded an annual growth rate of 40% since 2013, leading Janet M. Lopoz, the undersecretary of Minda to state, “With the CDUP intervention the program target is really viable.”