Bontoc, October 20, 2021 – In a move towards advancing quality coffee production practices, the Research and Development Unit (RDU) convened an Inception Meeting for the “Development and Evaluation of Colorimetric Chart for Coffee Fruit (Coffea Arabica L.) Ripeness Determination” project. Generously funded by ACDI/VOCA, the initiative aims to enhance coffee ripeness determination and improve post-harvest procedures for local coffee farmers.
Led by Project Leader Mr. Rolando M. Tawanna, Jr., the meeting served as a platform to introduce the project’s objectives, expected outputs, and its comprehensive budget of Php. 2,356,129.00. The focal points included developing ripeness guides, determining optimum sugar concentration for harvested coffee berries, and creating training materials for extension purposes.
The inception meeting addressed critical matters such as the preliminary activities that will be done by the project, such as the procurement of supplies, materials and equipment, fund transfers, and the required documents. Discussion on fund transfers was specifically emphasized as ACDI/VOCA has a fund transfer scheme that is different from the usual government-funded projects. Likewise, the turnover of materials for the mini-cupping laboratory and post-harvest tools were also addressed towards the end of the meeting. Ms. Christine Abellon, ACDI/VOCA – PhilCAFE’s Regional Coordinator for CAR, informed the group that the turnover would be rescheduled due to pending purchases. Additionally, the construction of a deep well in Ba-ang was further discussed, with an emphasis on timely budget preparation for construction, slated for June 2022.
The collaborative spirit and proactive approach displayed by both the project team and ACDI/VOCA bode well for the project’s success. Anticipation is high for swift procurement actions and milestone achievements in the next phase of implementation, promising positive implications for the local coffee industry.
