The Sultan Kudarat – Bukidnon coffee connection
Pangantucan, Bukidnon – In the barangay called New Eden, a coffee paradise resides. Finca de Garces is known for its award-winning beans, grown in the fertile foothills of Mount Kalatungan. After winning the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition in 2023, its reputation has made it a destination for coffee lovers—and now, for farmers eager to learn its secrets.
From August 25 to 27, 2025, coffee growers and local officials from Lebak and Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, traveled over 250 kilometers to Pangantucan to learn more about specialty coffee and connect with Bukidnon farmers, in hopes of elevating the quality of their own produce.
The learning exchange, organized by the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), brought together producers from both provinces to share experiences and practices that could address the pressing challenges of coffee production, processing, and trading.
Participants visited several coffee initiatives: the integrated coffee-based farm of Bob Barrios, the solar-powered processing facility of Bayanihan Millennium Multipurpose Cooperative, and Equilibrium Intertrade Corporation. Here, they learned about organic, research-based robusta cultivation, the transition from manual roasting to modern processing, and the art of coffee cupping.
The group also toured the Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center (NoMIARC) in Malaybalay and the Kauyagan Savers Multipurpose Cooperative, gaining exposure to new fertilizer technologies and innovations in the agri-value chain.
As the country’s top coffee-producing province, Sultan Kudarat’s delegation shared their own strategies for increasing yields, ensuring the exchange flowed both ways.
PEF Area Officer Redentor Aquino emphasized that the initiative is just the beginning:
“We will be creating an online community where coffee farmers from both provinces can talk about solutions and modern trends,” he said.
For farmer-leader Genevive Ponesto of Bacbacan Multipurpose Cooperative, the responsibility is clear:
“We will teach what we have learned to fellow farmers through sharing sessions and hands-on training.”
A demonstration farm is set to rise in Sultan Kudarat, designed to replicate these learnings and test new methods in coffee production. This new “Eden” may soon become the foundation for the province’s very own specialty coffee, nurtured through shared knowledge and collaboration.