Yoshi's passion for Mindanao (Vol 8: Coffee and Cacao)
2025/4/21
Mindanao has been referred to as the "Food basket of the Philippines" because of its abundant natural resources, fertile soil, and limitless potential in the field of agriculture. Many Japanese probably know that large quantities of bananas and pineapples are exported from Davao region to Japan. Today, however, I would like to touch upon Davao’s coffee and cacao production.
Among ASEAN countries, Indonesia and Vietnam are well known for their coffee. In contrast, Filipino coffee is not known at all. Interestingly, it is said that the Philippines was once the world’s 4th largest coffee exporter in 1880. But the coffee production fell into a decline due to plant diseases and other challenges. As a result, the quality of Filipino coffee degraded and it lost its reputation in the international markets. But the Philippines is one of the biggest coffee importers owing to its big domestic demands.
Then, a Japanese expert named Mr. Katsuhisa Ota, stood up for the future of the Philippine coffee. He persuaded farmers near Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak, to discard inferior beans and focus only on high-quality beans, and because of his intensive technical guidance, high-quality specialty coffee was born after several years. Instead of vegetables, coffee trees were planted in the steep mountainous farms which helped prevent soil erosion.
Now, many Davao coffee varieties rank at the highest-level in nationwide coffee competitions. The farmers are now better off and their livelihood have improved. I personally love the gentle and flavorful taste of Davao coffee and I will never forget the bright smiles of the coffee farmers who are caring for their crop in the wonderful natural surroundings of Mt. Apo.
Davao Region is also famous for its cacao production and has earned the title of “Cacao Capital of the Philippines”. Davao Region alone produces 78% of cacao in the Philippines (Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap 2021-2025). In recent years, Japan’s largest chocolate producer, “Fuji Oil”, donated fermentation boxes to Davao’s cooperative to help them improve the quality of their cacao. With the current cacao supply shortage all over the world and the soaring prices, we now intensely view Davao as a vital source of supply of cacao. Mr. Ota is once again playing a vital role in supporting the cacao industry.
Coffee and cacao are now in extremely high demand in Japan. I sincerely hope that Davao Region continues to develop in the future to be a major supplier of these agricultural products.
April 21, 2025 Ishikawa Yoshihisa
Among ASEAN countries, Indonesia and Vietnam are well known for their coffee. In contrast, Filipino coffee is not known at all. Interestingly, it is said that the Philippines was once the world’s 4th largest coffee exporter in 1880. But the coffee production fell into a decline due to plant diseases and other challenges. As a result, the quality of Filipino coffee degraded and it lost its reputation in the international markets. But the Philippines is one of the biggest coffee importers owing to its big domestic demands.
Then, a Japanese expert named Mr. Katsuhisa Ota, stood up for the future of the Philippine coffee. He persuaded farmers near Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak, to discard inferior beans and focus only on high-quality beans, and because of his intensive technical guidance, high-quality specialty coffee was born after several years. Instead of vegetables, coffee trees were planted in the steep mountainous farms which helped prevent soil erosion.
Now, many Davao coffee varieties rank at the highest-level in nationwide coffee competitions. The farmers are now better off and their livelihood have improved. I personally love the gentle and flavorful taste of Davao coffee and I will never forget the bright smiles of the coffee farmers who are caring for their crop in the wonderful natural surroundings of Mt. Apo.
Davao Region is also famous for its cacao production and has earned the title of “Cacao Capital of the Philippines”. Davao Region alone produces 78% of cacao in the Philippines (Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap 2021-2025). In recent years, Japan’s largest chocolate producer, “Fuji Oil”, donated fermentation boxes to Davao’s cooperative to help them improve the quality of their cacao. With the current cacao supply shortage all over the world and the soaring prices, we now intensely view Davao as a vital source of supply of cacao. Mr. Ota is once again playing a vital role in supporting the cacao industry.
Coffee and cacao are now in extremely high demand in Japan. I sincerely hope that Davao Region continues to develop in the future to be a major supplier of these agricultural products.
April 21, 2025 Ishikawa Yoshihisa
