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Showing posts with label Cacao Capital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cacao Capital. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Meet the couple behind one of Davao’s most successful durian and cacao farms

by Yvette Tan, Manila Bulletin

Davao is known for two crops: durian and cacao. At Belviz Farms, both take center stage.

Husband and wife Emmanuel “Nel”and Mary Grace “Eyeth” Belviz is the couple behind Belviza Farms and Rosario’s Delicacies. (Belviz Farms)

Belviz Farm is a family-owned farm in Calinan District, Davao City. It is currently run by husband and wife Emmanuel “Nel”and Mary Grace “Eyeth” Belviz, who met while studying agriculture in University of the Philippines, Los Banos (UPLB). Nel is in charge of farm operations while Eyeth, who hails from Quezon, is in charge of production and processing for Rosario’s Delicacies, the farm’s brand. Aside from their two main crops, they also produce  jackfruit, mangosteen, and lanzones, as well as seasonal crops like sunflowers.

The farm, which currently spans around 30 hectares of both owned and leased land, was originally established by Nel’s father, acclaimed durian farmer Severino Belviz. The couple had been helping the senior Belviz run the farm since they got married in 2000, taking over after Nel’s dad passed away in 2016.

“Our biggest challenge is what in Bisaya is called ‘inato,’ which loosely translates to traditional farming where you produce, you find a middleman, and you sell,” Nel explained in Taglish. “When my wife and I took over, we saw gaps in the marketing, so we looked for ways to  value-add products so that we can get a higher price on our harvest.”

Though the farm had been producing value-added products like frozen durian, durian candy, and durian jam since 2001, they increased their product line, adding unique items like jackfruit jam. They also revived their tablea production, which had halted in the 1980s, and ventured into bean-to-bar artisanal chocolates after Eyeth was accepted as a scholar to a cocoa and chocolate processing workshop in Ghent, Belgium. Their venture into artisanal chocolates coincided with the local bean-to-bar boom in 2015, when Filipinos were becoming more interested in local cacao. 

It was also a dream come true for Nel, whose childhood dream was to make chocolate candy. Growing up, his dad had explained that the cacao they grew for tablea was the main ingredient of the imported chocolate bars he loved so much, but with added ingredients like milk and sugar. When young Nel failed to make a bar, he promised himself that he would learn to produce chocolate candies one day. “At least now we get to fulfill his childhood dream,” Eyeth said in Tagalog.

Some of the fruits cultivated on the farm. (Belviz Farms)

Belviz Farms

Cacao and durian are actually related, both belonging to the family Malvaceae, which also includes cotton and okra. The two used to be intercropped, until the Belvizes realized that they flourish better when planted separately, as the microclimate produced from the intercropping hinders the growth of both plants. “Cacao and durian, when consumed, also give people a happy feeling because they produce serotonin and tryptophan,” Nel added.

The farm grows 11 durian varieties but is planning to focus on Puyat and Duyaya varieties because these are what’s popular internationally. “The international market only knows Thailand durian, and Puyat is comparable to the Thai variety,” Nel said. “Puyat is highly-resistant to pests and diseases.  It has a smaller canopy [than most varieties], [so] you can plant more per hectare. The taste is very good and it has a longer shelf life than other varieties… but you have to care for it or else you won’t have an abundant harvest.”

Though durian can be lucrative, it can also be intensive to cultivate. “You need at least the basic technical know-how,” Nel said. “It’s not a tree you can plant and forget. They need constant care until about three years old.”

The Puyat variety can be planted in 8×8 formation, for a total of about 158 trees a hectare. It is also possible to plant in 10×10 for a less intensive farm. The Belvizes advise planting nurse plants like bananas for the first three to five years as young durian trees flourish in the shade. The harvested bananas will also serve as a source of income while waiting for the durian trees to mature.

The durian trees will start flowering in about four years, though it’s suggested to wait until five or six years to begin harvesting to ensure good harvests. Around the fourth year, the banana trees can slowly be pared away to give the durian trees much-needed sun. “After six years, you can eliminate bananas and you can start harvesting from your durian,” Nel said.

If cared for properly, a healthy durian tree can produce fruits for up to 50 years, though the practice is to keep them up to 35-43 years to maintain a quality harvest. The farm also houses native varieties which are said to be around 135 years old. “As long as you fertilize properly, don’t overfruit your trees, practice fruit thinning, proper drainage, and proper care, I think your durian can last 50 years or more.”

The couple is currently focusing on durian because of the huge local demand and the growing interest in it internationally, with countries like Japan, US, China, and even Thailand looking to import. When asked if the Philippines can meet the global demand for durian, Nel was quick to say, “No, we need to plant more.”

The areas not planted to durian are used to grow cacao. They also source wet beans from nearby farmers and cooperatives, opting to process them themselves. “We ferment them ourselves so we can ensure their quality,” Nel said. “Flavor consistency is an important factor for good chocolate, and it starts in the fermentation process.”

Durian jam, one of the many value-added products from Belviz Farm that is sold under Rosario’s Delicacies. (Belviz Farms)

Rosario’s Delicacies

Working in tandem with Belviz Farms is Rosario’s Delicacies, its value-adding arm, which Eyeth manages. “We didn’t have a background in marketing and trends when we started,” Eyeth shared. “We started developing products because there was a need to use farm surplus. The benchmarking came after.”

Their first customers were folks studying farming in the farm, which is an Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) learning site. “We saw that there was a market, and from there, we created products like frozen durian, durian Jam, and durian candy.”

“We weren’t thinking about profit at first,” Nel added. “Fresh durian has a very short shelf life, so we needed to find a way to extend their selling time. That was why we ventured into processing.”

They were able to expand the availability of their products through the help of several government agencies. “They invited us to trade fairs, local bazaars, even international trade fairs,” Eyeth said, adding that though travel expense was a challenge, the government agencies tried to augment it by giving them free booth space. “The experience exposed us to different kinds of products and marketing. We learned how to deal with buyers and how to develop and improve our products.”

Their clientele began to expand by word of mouth. “Actually, our government is very supportive of SMEs and farmers. We just have to (avail of it).”

The couple stressed the importance of value-added products in adding to a farm’s revenue. They equally stress that value-adding and marketing requires a different approach and mindset, and ideally, a separate team altogether. This is exactly why Nel manages Belviz Farms and Eyeth manages Rosarios’ Delicacies: they’re both managing different businesses. 

Eyeth addressed the unintentionally dismissive response many of the public have towards farmers who complain about having surplus harvests with, “just turn it into something else:” “A lot of people misinterpret value-adding as a way for a farm to make money, when it should be that the farm is already making money before going into value-adding.”

Another thing to consider when going into production is to expand beyond one’s farm by working with supplies from other farmers and processors. “We work with other farmers and processors,” Nel says. “We don’t think of them as competitors but as collaborators. That’s how we increase our market.”

Working with other small farmers allows SMEs like Belviz Farms, Rosarios’ Delicacies, and their collaborators to compete with bigger industry players. “We should work as an industry, from farming to processing to working with suppliers and networking with logistics and government agencies,” eyeth says. “We need to group together to achieve economies of scale.”

An example of this was during the first lock down in 2020, Davao durian farmers had no customers because tourism had been halted. The group coordinated with the DA’s High Value Crops (department), who helped find clients outside Davao. “The cost of logistics were high, so everyone helped each other,” Nel said. “We were able to get a lower price working together than if we had done it alone.”

“We have to be resilient,” Eyeth added. “Resilience is an important characteristic of a farmer.”

Rosario’s Delicacies counts artisanal chocolate as one of its best sellers. (Belviz Farms)

The power of marketing

 The couple credits treating both farm and value-adding as businesses as part of the formula to their success after taking over. “Marketing is important,” Eyeth said. “If you don’t know your target audience, you’ll lose interest in farming… You need proper marketing, networking, and coordination with your target market.”

A recognizable brand and consistently high quality products are important as well, since the brand is the first thing customers see and of course, good products are what will keep them coming back.

It’s also important, especially for SMEs (Small and Mid-sized Enterprises), to constantly be on their toes. This is why it will shock  customers to find out that the Belvizes don’t consider themselves “successful” yet. “For us, success is a journey, not a destination,” Eyeth explained. “It’s how you survive. You consider yourself successful because you’ve weathered a challenge… you’ve innovated, you’ve helped other farmers, and you’ve helped build your industry. For us, it’s… part of being a successful farmer.

Nel and Eyeth Belviz are very happy in their chosen profession. “I love planning. There’s a cycle… If you plan (properly), when the durian flowers bloom, your farm will look like a winter wonderland because even the ground will look white because of all the falling petals. For me, that’s one of the most magical times in durian farming because from there, you can estimate if you’ll have a good harvest that year.”

“Farming is a good investment because farming is life,” Eyeth said. “No matter what happens, you won’t starve if you have a farm.”

Nel added, “There’s a saying that goes, ‘You will need a doctor once, twice, or ten times in your lifetime, but you will need a farmer every day.’”

The couple hope that more people, especially the youth, will consider a career in agriculture. “For those who want to farm or are already farming, please keep doing so because farming is forever,” Eyeth said. “You’ll be able to sustain not just your family, but also your community.”

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Bill declaring Davao City, Davao Region as chocolate, cacao capitals passed


CAPITAL. Voting 22-0-1, the Senate passed on Monday, March 8, Senate Bill 1741 (SB 1741), also known as "An Act declaring the City of Davao as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and the entire Region XI (Davao Region) as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines." The bill was sponsored by Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. (RJ Lumawag)


By: REUEL JOHN F. LUMAWAG, SunStar Davao


DAVAO City being declared as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and Davao Region as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines will open more opportunities to local cacao farmers and processors.


Voting 22-0-1, the Senate passed on Monday, March 8, Senate Bill 1741 (SB 1741), also known as "An Act declaring the City of Davao as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and the entire Region XI (Davao Region) as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines."


The bill was sponsored by Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture.


Villar filed the bill on July 27, 2020.


The bill is co-authored by Senators Christopher Lawrence T. Go and Ronald dela Rosa, both from Davao Region.


Section 2 states that the bill seeks to recognize Davao City and Davao Region "as the country's biggest producer of cacao and its vital contribution in making the Philippines world-renowned and sought after by chocolate makers from the US, Japan, and Europe."


Leo Brian Leuterio, City Agriculturist's Office head, said they welcome the passage of SB 1741 because it recognizes the efforts made by local cacao farmers, processors, and chocolate makers.


Villar said in her sponsorship speech on February 9, 2021, that based on the latest data her office received from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Davao Region produces around 78.76 percent of the annual production of cacao in the Philippines.


She cited Malagos Chocolate, which has bagged 28 international awards, for its chocolate products. Also under the Cocoa Excellence Programme in 2017, cacao produced by Malagos Agri Ventures has been included among the best 50 cacao beans globally.


Villar also said Laguna-based and multi-awarded chocolate brand Auro Chocolates also sources its cacao beans from Davao-based farming farmers.


She also recognized Cacao City and Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. (Cidami) as among the contributors to the growth of the chocolate and cacao industry in Davao City and Davao Region.


Cacao City is an outlet store for cacao products while Cidami is a non-profit based in Davao is also the leading cacao value chain organizer in cacao.


"This recognition proves that we are already there, na achieve nato atong mga targets. The fact nga maka-produce ka quality chocolate, means naka-produce ka quality cacao beans, quality [imong] fermentation, at the end of the day it means hawod imong farmer (The recognition shows that we have achieved our targets of producing quality cacao products. Having quality chocolates means we are producing quality cacao beans, which have been fermented properly. At the end of the day, it means that our local farmers have the know-how in cacao production)," Leuterio said.


He said local farmers will directly benefit from Davao Region and Davao City's recognition as Cacao and Chocolate capital.


Leuterio said the recognition will increase awareness of locally made chocolates. This is seen to produce better prices, industries, and side-table demand for chocolates and cacao.


"It can produce more interest. More interest means more market and sales. More market and sales mean good stable prices of raw materials, which always benefit the smaller farmers in the [value] chain," he said.


In a press statement on February 9, Villar said "her bill simply gives recognition for the pioneering, outstanding collective contribution of the cacao farmers who supply dry cacao beans to the processors and manufacturers."


Meanwhile, Armi Lopez-Garcia, national chairperson of the Philippine Cacao Industry Council, said they hope President Rodrigo Duterte will veto SB 1741.


"The Senate chose to ignore the unanimous voice of the Philippine cacao industry opposing SB 1741, which runs against the national policy to develop the cacao industry nationwide. But what can we do? We hope that the President will veto the bill because it is unfair to the industry players of the other regions. However, we will no longer work for a Presidential veto especially since he is from Davao, the main beneficiary of the bill," Lopez-Garcia said in an interview with SunStar Davao on March 9, 2021.


Earlier, the PCIC submitted a position paper opposing SB 1741. The group said the bill "discriminates against the many cacao planters and chocolate producers in other regions."


"It discriminates against the weak regions that are responding to the government's call for the development of the cacao industry in the country. These fledgling regions, provinces, cities, and the hundreds of farmers cooperatives are the ones in need of help. And they should not be discriminated against. They should be supported instead," PCIC said.


It added that the bill could be disadvantageous to other cacao-producing areas in the country "because Davao city would have the definite advantage in marketing and branding."


"How can the other producers compete with a chocolate product that comes from the chocolate capital of the Philippines? Clearly, a great disadvantage that will tend to a restraint of trade because the level playing field of fair competition has been slanted in favor of Davao city," the group said.


However, Garcia said they do acknowledge the achievements Davao Region and Davao City have made in the cacao industry. But they do not see the need that there should be legislation on this.


"Wala me kaso i-acknowledge ang Davao but dili lang i-legislate (We do not find an issue acknowledging Davao but it did not need to legislate it)," Lopez-Garcia said.


Meanwhile, Lopez-Garcia said the council will continue to work on its mandate to help develop the cacao industry as it has lined-up several projects.


"We have to look after ourselves. We are now thinking of so many projects that will really lift up the spirits of the industry players all over the country," Lopez-Garcia said.


The PCIC is a private sector-led council created to spearhead the development of the cacao industry. This will be composed of public and private sector representatives with the Department of Agriculture as co-chair of the Council.