Amadeo coffee has been a staple at the Filipino breakfast table for generations.

The town of Amadeo in Cavite has been a player in the local coffee industry since the 1880s.

This sleepy town just a few miles from Taal volcano boasts of sloping terrain, rich volcanic soil, and cool weather that is perfect for growing coffee beans.

“We can plant coffee in our backyards, as long as there is enough space to plant. We use them to intercrop with banana, and other types of vegetables,” shared Municipal Agriculturist, Celsa Honrada.

“We assisted the local farmers during the pandemic and when the Taal volcano erupted in 2020. Along with the national government, the municipality provided agricultural intervention to the farmers, such as fertilizers and coffee seedlings to replace the ones killed by the ashfall,” Honrada said.

To reinvigorate the resilient coffee production industry, Amadeo formulated a long-term plan that banked on encouraging the youth’s interest in agriculture.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has been a supportive partner in the local government’s drive to promote agriculture among the youth by incorporating related skills into their Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) classes for Grade 12 students and younger.

“Our schools have been teaching elementary students how to handle soil which can later on help them develop an interest in agriculture. Of course, children nowadays are more into computers, but through the Gulayan sa Paaralan, we are encouraging our kids to become interested in agriculture.”

The municipality of Amadeo culminated its efforts in revitalizing public interest in agriculture and coffee production through the launch of the very first Mayabong Agri Trade Fair last January 15 to coincide with the town’s founding anniversary.

A showcase of local products that exhibited the ingenuity and abundance of Amadeo through their impressive handicrafts and fresh produce, the Mayabong Agri Trade Fair highlighted the importance of agriculture and the coffee industry in their identity and growth as a town.

With its initial success and overwhelming support, the following years will see the Mayabong Agri Trade Fair growing bigger as a testament to the farmers’ hard work that can be tasted from every cup of Amadeo coffee. (PB/PIA-4A)