The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has successfully distributed coffee farm rejuvenation tools to 1,142 farmers in the municipalities of Lebak, Senator Ninoy Aquino, and Kalamansi in Sultan Kudarat.
Through its provincial office, the DTI provided pruning shears, saws, grafting knives, knapsack sprayers, and chainsaws to support the rehabilitation of local coffee farms, ensuring their resilience and long-term industry sustainability.
Implemented under the Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project, this project underscores the DTI’s commitment to boosting the coffee industry and uplifting small-scale farmers in the region.
Provincial Director Mary Ann M. Morales of Sultan Kudarat, highlighted the significance of combining technical training with material support.
“By integrating Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training with the distribution of rejuvenation tools, we are empowering our coffee farmers with the skills and resources necessary to restore their farms and elevate their yields. This initiative will not only improve productivity and bean quality but will also pave the way for a more resilient and thriving coffee industry in Sultan Kudarat,” Provincial Director Morales said.
Equipped with new farming tools and technical knowledge, coffee farmers are expected to increase their productivity that will drive economic growth in Sultan Kudarat and the broader SOCCSKSARGEN region.
Through the intervention, the DTI continues to champion sustainable coffee farming, ensuring that coffee farmers in Sultan Kudarat and the entire region move towards a more productive and more profitable future.
The RAPID Growth Project aims to intensify agro-enterprise development in rural areas by bringing employment, livelihood and enterprises to rural communities.
The project focuses on strengthening the coffee, cacao, coconut, and processed fruits and nuts industries across 21 provinces in six regions—Regions 8, 9, 10, 11, Caraga, and BARMM. Through capacity-building programs, financial assistance, market linkages, and infrastructure support, including farm-to-market roads and post-harvest facilities, RAPID Growth equips farmers and MSMEs with the necessary tools to scale up their businesses.
Since its inception in 2019, the RAPID Growth Project has achieved 83.51% completion, and has already helped over 54,000 farming households, 631 farmer groups, and 797 MSMEs grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
With a strong emphasis on poverty reduction, the initiative aims to create sustained income growth for smallholder farmers and unemployed rural workers, helping uplift communities and drive long-term economic progress.
