The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) has started training a total of 50 coffee farmers on Coffee Production Level II in Bukidnon Integrated Coffee Center (BICC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City.

Tesda Secretary Isidro Lapeña said the free training is part of the agency's partnership with Nestlé  Philippines under a memorandum of agreement they signed last May 9.

"This is why Tesda and Nestlé Philippines are joining hands to carry out the coffee production project. By upskilling the workers and trainers in coffee production, we will enable the farmers and indigenous people to produce quality coffee beans that are at par with the standards of Nestlé."

Tesda-Bukidnon announced that out of 50 scholars, 25 individuals belonging to the first batch are coffee growers and coffee farm workers from Maramag town, while the other 25 individuals are from Lantapan town. They are the first two batches for this training program.

The first batch of scholars started their training through a virtual Training Induction Program held last June 24 followed by the second batch held on July 1, 2021.

One of the program beneficiaries is Leo Zambrano, a coffee farmer from Barangay Kaatuan in the town of Lantapan who is known as the Nescafé Plan Coffee Ambassador and whose face can be seen on Nescafé packs.

Their training in Coffee Production Level II, which lasts for 176 hours or 25 days, is being done through a combination of face-to-face and distance learning where they can learn about modern coffee growing and entrepreneurship.

The training program has allotted 200 scholarship slots in Bukidnon for this year and will accommodate six more batches to be identified by Nestlé Philippines.

Based on the agreement, Tesda will train the identified beneficiaries of Nestlé Philippines initially in Bukidnon and the Province of Sultan Kudarat where 80 percent of the country's coffee is grown.

Lapeña is also looking forward that this scholarship program will reach more coffee farmers in the country.

Meanwhile, Tesda-XII is now preparing to implement the Coffee Production Level II in the Province of Sultan Kudarat.

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