Two entrepreneurs shared their success stories in the coffee business during the second day of the Yookah Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) organized by the Cordillera Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development (CorCAARRD).
Held at the Kalinga State University in Tabuk City, Kalinga, the FIESTA was attended by farmers and aspiring farmers in the province.
Camilo Degay, owner of the Magallaya Mountain Specialty Coffee, started his business by buying and selling coffee from other coffee farmers. He also shared that he sold low class coffee before.
According to Degay, trainings and seminars conducted by various government agencies helped him improve his business. After being equipped with knowledge, he began selling high class coffee.
Degay is also a beneficiary of the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). He mentioned that he was able to purchase his coffee processing equipment through the program.
In order to improve the packaging of his products, Degay received packaging assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Aside from providing the best quality of products, Degay said that it is also important to develop good relationship with clients in order to improve his business. Through his business, he was able to contribute in the economy of Kalinga as well as the livelihood of those he employs.
Virginia Sacki, owner of Cafe de Kalinga, also shared her success story during the program.
According to Sacki, she used to supply coffee to Nestle, one of the biggest company involved in health and wellness. She added that serving quality coffee is important in being a coffee supplier of Nestle.
With the hope of increasing her capital, she worked overseas as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in 2003 to 2009. She stated that she went back to the Philippines to pursue her coffee business.
Sacki is also a beneficiary of the SETUP program of DOST. She expressed her gratitude to DOST and other government agencies for their assistance in improving her business.
Planting fruits and vegetables, according to Sacki, would also help her acquire additional income aside from her coffee business.
To encourage the participants to engage in coffee business, Sacki claimed that there is money in agriculture.
CorCAARRD's Yookah FIESTA is a two-day activity which aims to showcase R&D gains on native pig and robusta coffee. FIESTA is a technology promotion, transfer, and commercialization platform initiated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD). CorCAARRD is one of the 16 R&D Consortia of the Council.