Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. and Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines Ilan Fluss personally witnessed the best agricultural practices of the Filipinas Cacao Heritage Reserve, March 5.
The Filipinas Cacao Heritage Reserve is a 13-hectare cacao farmland in Calamba, Laguna owned by Jacqueline Sy Go, who had partnered with the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines for technical assistance.
With about five hectares of productive area, the Filipinas Cacao Heritage Reserve utilizes integrated pest management, drip irrigation, weather monitoring, grafting, composting, and modern technologies under the mentorship of a team of Israeli experts in cacao production.
The collaboration also resulted in the successful rehabilitation and revival of a 90-year-old Criollo cacao in Calamba, which now serves as the farm’s source of planting material.
Following the farm visit, Secretary Tiu Laurel, Jr. assured that the Department is focused on the revitalization of the Philippine cacao industry through its High value Crops Development program (HVCDP) and other operating units. ### (photos by Alarico Nuestro, DA-AFID/Jay Morales, DA-OSEC)
