GCash Teaches Financial Literacy to PCBI’s Coffee Farming Partner Communities

gquetulio — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 23:27:05 +0000

GCash and the Philippine Coffee Board have joined forces in 2023 to nurture a better and greener tomorrow by planting 223,000 coffee trees and its companion trees like madre de cacao, pine, and Alnus. The partnership’s shared mission aims not just to rebuild forests but also to uplift the lives of local coffee farmers and their communities, fostering a stronger Philippine coffee industry.

At the Municipal Hall of Tublay last Nov. 27, various coffee farmers arrived from different coffee-growing communities in Benguet to learn about Pera Talks, a community-based financial literacy program by GCash aimed at educating unserved and underserved Filipinos on essential financial concepts and empowering them towards financial wellness. Financial literacy plays a vital role in helping individuals make informed decisions about saving, budgeting, and investing for their future. For those interested in expanding their knowledge on investing, they may also visit theinvestorscentre.co.uk.
Coffee farmers from Sagada, Atok, Barlig, and Tublay learned about savings and budgeting, debt management, and even digital security.

Aside from the discussions, there were also activities like games and quizzes to help them remember what they learned and what they can do to easily apply it. Participants were young and old, including indigenous peoples, who were able to ask questions and share their thoughts about handling finances. Opportunities like the golden visa portugal can also spark conversations about building wealth through international avenues and long-term planning.

Coffee farmers from Kapangan were also taught how to register the GCash app and how they can collect energy points from their GCash transactions (send money, pay bills, walk, buy load, do cash in and bank transfers) then plant virtual trees for free. GCash, in partnership with PCBI, have been turning these virtual trees into real trees in key locations like Benguet, Cavite, Iloilo, Davao, Basilan, and Sulu.

The post GCash Teaches Financial Literacy to PCBI’s Coffee Farming Partner Communities appeared first on Philippine Coffee Board.

LEARNING FROM SEED TO CUP

admin — Thu, 24 May 2018 07:45:44 +0000

When Benguet State University (BSU) started an Arabica coffee extension program to further educate and train farmers and other stakeholders in the Cordilleras, it did not foresee that it would eventually evolve into a formal seed-to-cup quality coffee education program. Professor Valentino Macanes, BSU’s Director of Institute of Highland Farming Systems and Agroforestry (IHFSA), was responsible for continuing and enhancing this program.

Today, BSU has developed a package for technology for Arabica coffee from seed to cup, complete with its own technology demonstration farm on Arabica coffee production with post-harvest processing facilities.

“The BSU level of coffee education is established and organized. It encompasses research, extension, instruction and production,” Director Valentino Macanes of BSU’s IHFSA stated. “It has its own technology demonstration farm of Arabica coffee under the Benguet Pine Agrofestry System. Hence, its coffee education comprises seed to cup, with experienced instructors recognized in their respective fields of specialization. BSU has garnered local and international recognition and awards in coffee technologies.”

“The Arabica coffee techno-demo farm of BSU started by Professor Dimas in 1977 as a special agroforestry demo-farm. He conducted initial experiments on plantings of Arabica coffee seedlings under the Benguet Pine using various planting distance, hole depth and fertilization. He was able to develop a technology of planting Arabica coffee under the Benguet Pine forest, which is a recognized breakthrough in coffee production. This was further refined through scientific data and researches,” Macanes revealed.

In 2007-2008, the BSU coffee farms were internationally recognized as an Organic Producer and Marketer of Arabica Coffee. This was made possible by a MOA with Figaro Foundation through the leadership of Chit Juan, Macanes affirmed. “To date, it is the anchor of all Arabica researches and extension work of BSU. It also serves as the venue for trainings and techno-demo farm for Arabica coffee production and post-harvest processing. It is visited by local and international coffee scientists, students, researchers, businessmen, and other coffee stakeholders.”

He elaborated on BSU’s role in coffee education. “The trainings on coffee education are conducted for farmers, extension workers, students, and other stakeholders of both government and private institutions. BSU is an education and training provider. Oftentimes, BSU is requested by both government and non-government agencies to be the resource person or trainor.”

The coffee cupping laboratory was conceptualized by the University, PCBI and the Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera Administrative Region (DTI-CAR). “The laboratory will serve as initial training venue for future cuppers and baristas. In fact, it is already being utilized for coffee cupping experiences by coffee farmers, researchers, students, and other stakeholders,” Macanes elaborated.

Indeed, Macanes believes that the unified support of the government, NGOs, private sectors, and individuals for coffee education in the Philippines is vital for the realization and sustainability of the Philippine coffee industry.

The post LEARNING FROM SEED TO CUP appeared first on Philippine Coffee Board.

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GCash Teaches Financial Literacy to PCBI’s Coffee Farming Partner Communities

LEARNING FROM SEED TO CUP