Cacao+ Project concludes with a Market Fair and Official Closing Ceremony
The GIZ Cacao+ Project, a transformative initiative aimed at improving smallholder livelihoods through an inclusive business model, officially concluded on August 2 with a big event at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Davao City. The Closing Ceremony brought together key stakeholders from the cacao sector to celebrate the Project's achievements, hand-over valuable knowledge products, and foster future collaboration. The event marked the culmination of a 5-year public-private partnership that reached 15,000 farmers across seven provinces and three regions in Mindanao, enhancing productivity and income through access to adult-learner cacao-centric trainings, agriculture finance, and marketing. WATCH the VIDEO
The day's celebrations kicked-off with the 2nd Agri-Finance Market Fair, themed “Kaalamang Pinansyal = Magsasakang Entrep Ready” (Financial Knowledge = Farmers Ready for Entrepreneurship), which underscored the importance of integrating financial institutions with agricultural communities, a cornerstone of the Cacao+ project.
Cacao farmers were able to connect with financial institutions and showcase their diverse products, including pure "tableya", cacao vinegar, cacao butter, and various chocolate creations. The fair's vibrant atmosphere was enhanced by colorful booths, the enticing aroma of freshly brewed "sikwate," (hot chocolate) and interactive activities designed to educate and engage farmers.
Attendees explored a variety of financial products and services, such as Microfinance Agri-loans by Agronomika Finance Corporation, Drought/Weather Protect Insurance by CLIMBS, Piso-pisong Tigom for Farmers by Cebu People’s Multipurpose Cooperative, and the launch of the Modules on Financial Literacy (FinLit) and Portable FinLit Maze by GIZ and Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
The Closing Ceremony, with the theme “Padayun sa Kakaw: Pagpupugay, Pagpapasalamat, Pagpapatuloy” (Continuing with Cacao: Tribute, Gratitude, and Carrying On), celebrated the milestones and accomplishments of the Cacao+ Project while recognising the collaborative efforts of private industry, public institutions, and civil society.
Cacao+, jointly implemented GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Kennemer Foods International (KFI), a private Philippine cacao processing company in the Philippines, has made substantial progress in supporting smallholder cacao farmers.
The German Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, sent a video message highlighting the 70-year partnership between Germany and the Philippines. He emphasized the importance of supporting farmers and how the Cacao+ Project has been a model of sustainable agricultural development and collaboration and expressed confidence that the Project's foundations would inspire ongoing innovation in the sector.
The ceremony featured the handover of key knowledge products developed during the project, including the Training Modules of the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP), Financial Literacy Training Modules, Brochures, the FinLit Maze, and Coffee Table Books on the Cacao+ Project. These products are set to be carried forward by the project’s partners, ensuring further support of cacao farmers and impact of the project’s efforts.
The event concluded with a Partners’ Networking Evening, which was designed to express gratitude and appreciation to the relevant partners who played crucial roles in the success of Cacao+. Golden cacao plaques were presented to symbolize their significant contributions and the enduring impact of their collaboration.
The closing of Cacao+ is not an end but rather a new beginning -- the relationships and the knowledge established over the past years has paved the way wherein tools, practices, and networks will continue to benefit cacao farmers and stakeholders.
High-ranking officials and key partners gathered to reflect on the project’s journey, including the Director of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) National, Engr. Remelyn R. Recoter; Executive Director of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), Ma. Cristina G. Lopez; Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office XI (DA-RFO 11), Macario D. Gonzaga; Deputy Project Director of Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), Carlene Collaballdo; and Assistant Vice-President of the Landbank of the Philippines, Dante Abad. Their presence underscored the significance of the Cacao+ initiative in fostering partnerships that enable further support to the farmers.