ISULAN, SULTAN KUDARAT (PIA) — Sultan Kudarat’s provincial government is concentrating on expanding the local coffee industry to alleviate poverty and generate more opportunities for the community.
The plan brings together government agencies, businesses, and international partners to fully tap into the province’s coffee potential.
“We believe that it is a big business, but more to it is that it can be used as a tool for poverty alleviation, where we can help the indigenous communities and the poorest of the poor. We can show them that great things are possible here in Sultan Kudarat,” Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu said.
In 2023, Sultan Kudarat became the top coffee producer in the Philippines, surpassing Cavite, Batangas, and Bukidnon combined. The provincial government now wants to increase production, improve coffee quality, and expand its market.
“We want to elevate ourselves. We want to scale up our production, improve the quality, and expand. This way, both the people and the market can see how this benefits everyone,” Governor Mangudadatu added.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region 12 showed that Soccsksargen has the largest area devoted to coffee production in the country, with 26,172 hectares planted. Of this, 20,437 hectares—78 percent—are in Sultan Kudarat. The province produced about 19,778.3 metric tons of green coffee beans (GCB) in 2023 and 13,426.35 metric tons in the first to third quarters of 2024.
To achieve its goals, Sultan Kudarat is working with local and international businesses and the Department of Agriculture.
Recently, coffee experts from Vietnam, one of the world’s leading coffee producers, visited coffee farmers in the Municipality of Sen. Ninoy Aquino. Mangudadatu emphasized how Vietnam’s government gave farmers everything they needed to succeed.
“In Vietnam, the government provided all the tools and support. Farmers only needed to plant, take care of their crops, and work hard. Their lives improved. We can do the same here,” he said.
The provincial government aims to include coffee farming in its development plans to ensure everyone—especially farmers—benefits from this progress. Governor Mangudadatu stressed the importance of teamwork among local governments, national agencies, and private groups to make this happen.
“I think that can be done in Sultan Kudarat. If we meet the needs and address the concerns, we can open Sultan Kudarat’s doors not just to tourism and public service but also to business, economic productivity, and empowerment,” he said.
The governor emphasized that Sultan Kudarat’s efforts to grow its coffee industry offer a bright future for the province, helping improve lives and create new opportunities for local communities. (ORVR – PIA Sultan Kudarat)
