October 10, 2022
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has committed to training more coffee farmers under the agency’s joint training program with Nestlè Philippines (NPI).
TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz said more slots will be earmarked to train farmers in coffee production as well as to develop a pool of trainers and assessors for the coffee sub-sector
“This project is doing very well, and we will no doubt see the impact of this training on the country’s coffee production in a very short while,” he said.
“We know that upgrading the knowledge and skills of our farmers in coffee production will ultimately result in improving the quality of their products as well as improve their competitiveness,” he added.
The TESDA – NPI Partnership on Upskilling of Workers and Trainers in Coffee Production aims to promote workers’ entrepreneurship and enhance competency standards in coffee production and other related training programs.
Started in mid-2021, more than 700 farmers have so far finished their free training on Coffee Production Level II. The training is being conducted in Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat.
In 2021, some 473 coffee growers and coffee farm workers graduated from the training. In 2022 so far, 230 have already finished the course, while another 268 are currently undergoing training.
TESDA targets to produce more farmer-beneficiaries through the continued implementation of the joint program.
“We have found a worthwhile partner in Nestlè Philippines to help us further strengthen the country’s coffee industry,” added the TESDA chief.
The Coffee Production Level II training lasts for 176 hours or 25 days, and is implemented under the TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program - Program on Accelerating Farm School Establishment.
The enterprise-based training is being done through a combination of face-to-face and distance learning, and includes topics on modern coffee-growing techniques and entrepreneurship.
Training is being conducted at the Bukidnon Integrated Coffee Center (BIGCC) in Malaybalay City as well as at the TESDA Provincial Training Center - Sultan Kudarat.
Nestlè Philippines has provided experts, particularly agronomists, to help TESDA develop training regulations, competency standards, and competency assessment tools.
The company identifies the farmer-beneficiaries for the project and provides each a coffee starter toolkit. The kit includes workbooks, record books, visual aids and other materials for the training.
As part of the project, Nestlè Philippines will also “adopt” a TESDA agricultural school where coffee trees are incubated and will purchase the produce of these trees from the farmers. (30)
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