senseneres: WHY ARE WE IMPORTING CACAO BEANS?

WHY ARE WE IMPORTING CACAO BEANS?

It is one of those questions we should have answered a long time ago: Why is the Philippines importing cacao beans? After all, cacao is not like apples or grapes—we can grow it. And we actually do grow it, especially in Davao, Agusan, and parts of Northern Mindanao. So why, in 2024, did we still import US$441 million worth of cacao and cocoa preparations?

The simple answer is this: Local demand is high, but local supply is low.
But the more important question is: Why are we not doing something big and serious to fix that?

THE REALITY: WE NEED MORE CACAO FARMS

Our chocolate manufacturers and food processors need huge volumes of cacao. Meanwhile, many of our farmers are producing only a few kilos per tree per year, and some still struggle with irrigation, pests, climate variability, and post-harvest quality.

Even worse, only a fraction of potential cacao-growing land is actually planted.

So yes, we import cacao because we don’t produce enough. But that should not be the end of the story. Why not increase production not only to meet local demand, but to build an export industry? If Ghana and Ivory Coast can dominate the world market, why can’t the Philippines, which produces some of the world’s finest single-origin cacao?

In fact, countries like Switzerland do not grow cacao at all, yet they are global chocolate giants. We produce cacao—why can’t we dominate the value chain too?

THE ROADMAPS ARE THERE—BUT ARE WE FOLLOWING THEM?

We already have the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap 2021–2025, extended into 2026–2030. These plans aim to:

expand cacao production areas
train farmers
improve fermentation and drying
promote fine-flavor Filipino cacao
reduce imports and build an export niche

These are good plans. But plans are not enough. My biggest question is this: Who is monitoring whether these plans are being followed? How do we know if we are on track?

Are the roadmaps only about production, or do they include export targets and value-chain development? If we want to join the world market, we must think beyond raw beans. We must think of tablea, cocoa liquor, butter, powder, and finished chocolate.

LOCAL HEROES: NEGROS AND BICOL—BUT WHERE IS THE SUPPORT?

It is encouraging that Negros Island Region and Bicol Region are scaling up their cacao ambitions. Davao, of course, remains the cacao capital. But are these regions receiving the support they need from the Department of Agriculture (DA), the DA’s High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and DOST?

Years ago, Cavite had a thriving cacao industry. What happened to it? Did farmers shift crops? Were they unsupported? Did markets collapse? The government should commission a real study—not a seminar, not a workshop—to understand what cacao-producing regions actually need to grow sustainably.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW?

Here is my straightforward proposal:

Expand cacao agroforestry
Cacao thrives under shade. Plant it under fruit trees, native trees, and watershed reforestation projects. More trees, more cacao, more water retention.
Empower barangays and cooperatives
Small farmers cannot do this alone. But barangay clusters, co-ops, and indigenous communities can manage cacao zones if supported by DA and DOST.
Invest in post-harvest
Our biggest weakness is fermentation and drying. Without proper flavor development, beans sell for lower prices. This is where the government must step in.
Aim to reduce imports—and then export
Why settle for import substitution? The Philippines can lead in fine-flavor cacao. The world already recognizes Davao cacao as among the best.

THE BOTTOM LINE

We import cacao because we do not produce enough. But this is a solvable problem. We have the climate, the land, and the people. What we need is commitment, coordination, and serious investment.

If we can turn cacao farming into a national priority—just like rice and sugar—we may soon reach the day when the question is no longer “Why are we importing cacao?” but rather:

“Why aren’t other countries importing cacao from us?”

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/08-06-2026