Farmers highlight gains from coffee development after Caraga competition win
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Casiklan Wheels Farmers Association Inc. (CAWFAI), a farmer-led enterprise based in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, showcased the tangible gains of sustained coffee development interventions after emerging as one of the winners in the Caraga Coffee Quality Competition 2025.
CAWFAI member Gregorio Buntag Jr. placed second in the competition, with his Robusta coffee, posting a cupping score of 83.20 and fetching P1,550 per kilo during the Coffee Auction, an outcome that underscores the association’s improving production quality and growing market competitiveness.
According to Anthony Buntag, CAWFAI member and founder of Anton’s Coffee Products Processing, the recognition affirms the strong potential of Robusta coffee in Caraga. He noted that the Caraga Coffee Festival enables farmers to continuously improve quality standards, access premium markets, and secure better prices for their produce.
DTI Agusan del Norte Director Lorejane D. Sacote highlighted the cultural and social value of locally produced coffee, particularly during the Christmas season. “During the holidays, family gatherings become even more meaningful when shared over locally produced Caraga coffee. It is more than just a beverage; it represents the hard work of our farmers and the progress of our rural communities.”
She added that enjoying local coffee during Christmas gatherings helps connect consumers directly to farmers’ livelihoods while supporting the growth of the regional coffee industry.
CAWFAI is a beneficiary of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) through the Green Coffee Beans Production and Marketing Project, with a total investment of P9.2 million. The project includes the establishment of a coffee processing center, provision of postharvest equipment, and P1 million in financial assistance, aimed at strengthening the coffee value chain and increasing farmers’ incomes.
The Dec. 3–5 Caraga Coffee Festival gathered coffee farmers, processors, cafe owners, buyers, and other stakeholders to promote the development of the Robusta coffee industry in the region.
Caraga Coffee Council Chairman Nilo Calipayan said the recognition of farmer groups such as CAWFAI reflects the sector’s transformative shift from dependence on traders toward farmer empowerment and entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, DA Caraga Regional Technical Director Abel Wagas emphasized that coffee is a driver of productivity and innovation, encouraging farmers to enhance production practices and diversify coffee-based products to meet evolving market demands.
The festival featured activities such as the Coffee Painting Competition, Latte Art Showdown, Brewers’ Cup, and Coffee Auction. Organized in partnership with DTI Caraga, the event was supported through the I-PLAN Component of the DA-PRDP, in line with the implementation of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan (NAFMIP). (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte, with a report from DA Caraga and DTI Caraga)
