The Department of Agriculture RFO 8 has turned over Php 1,111,022.26 to the Farmers Association of Cutay, marking a crucial leap in boosting the local production of quality cacao planting materials under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP). The assistance aims to boost the livelihood of coconut farmers by expanding opportunities through intercropping initiatives.

As mandated under Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11524, also known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, DA-HVCDP is tasked with implementing the intercropping component for coffee and cacao. This ensures that coconut farmers nationwide gain access to sustainable and income-enhancing interventions, including the establishment of nurseries and the provision of certified planting materials.

For Fiscal Year 2025, DA-HVCDP will roll out the establishment of Community-Based Nurseries (CBNs) across the country. These nurseries aim to address the scarcity of Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)-certified planting materials for coffee and cacao, a long-standing challenge encountered by communities engaging in coconut intercropping. The initiative also strengthens traceability systems and promotes higher survival rates of distributed seedlings.

The CBN project further empowers local farmers and community groups by equipping them to produce high-quality seedlings, which may serve as an additional and sustainable source of income. Through proper training and nursery management, beneficiaries are expected to become active contributors to the national supply of quality planting materials for high-value crops.

With the turnover of more than Php 1.1 million, the Farmers Association of Cutay is poised to establish and operate a robust cacao nursery that will support both local demand and intercropping efforts in the region. The DA-RFO 8 emphasized that with continuous support, capacity-building, and responsible management, the association is projected to emerge as a reliable and long-term supplier of certified cacao seedlings in the years ahead.