Published August 15, 2024 by The Ripple
Lasam, Cagayan—The Cagayan State University (CSU) Lasam Campus marked a significant milestone today with the official opening of its upgraded cacao processing center.
The event commenced with a tree planting activity, participated in by CSU-Lasam faculty and staff, members of the Cacao Growers Association, business owners, representatives from other organizations, and cacao farmers. This was followed by the blessing of the center, led by Rev. Fr. Julius M. Teano.
Prof. Florante Victor M. Balatico, Campus Executive Officer of CSU-Lasam, was joined by Hon. Dante Dexter Agatep, Jr., Municipal Mayor of Lasam, and Mr. Frederico Ordinario, Jr. of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 2 during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In his welcoming remarks, CEO Balatico emphasized the progress and milestones of the campus's cacao niche program and its contributions to livelihood and community partnerships.
Mayor Agatep expressed his gratitude to the Cacao Growers Association and CSU-Lasam, highlighting the potential for the municipality to become the Cacao Capital of the region.
The Maluyo High-Value Commercial Crops Association (MHVCCA) also received four boxes of portable solar dryers to assist with fermenting and drying cacao beans.
To kick off the training session, Noli Garcia, President of the Cacao Growers Association and the Cagayan Valley Cacao Council, discussed cacao production and processing, sharing advice on planting and growing cacao.
Additionally, Rolando Dela Peña, a business owner from Santa Ana, talked about the production and benefits of organic fertilizer, drawing from his field of expertise.
Furthermore, Earl Rommel Colegado, owner of SA-Cacao, provided training on advanced cacao processing techniques, focusing on fermenting procedures for cacao beans.
As one of the highlights, guests and participants visited Terry's Cacao Farm to examine various cacao varieties and discuss the most suitable ones for fermentation.
The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between CSU-Lasam and MHVCCA.