TESDA, Nazarene College, Benguet LGUs launch 'Farm to Cup' program

The Philippine Nazarene College partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the municipal agriculture offices of the 13 towns of Benguet to formally launch the Farm to Cup Program last March 16 to improve the coffee industry in the province.  

Conceptualized by the PNC and other partners, the program aims to enhance the coffee industry by offering technical vocational courses related on coffee specifically on coffee planting, coffee processing and to its preparation and serving, and even its business opportunities.

The Farm to Cup partnership of the TESDA and the PNC is a way to enhance the skills, and at the same time the livelihood of the different stakeholders particularly in the coffee industry in Benguet. This is also a means that TESDA could provide support during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the lives of each Filipino.

The idea of the Farm to Cup Program started when a group of individuals including school officials started planting coffee trees around the school compound particularly at the vacant areas last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. They started to conceptualize on how they process the coffee beans and eventually building their own coffee shop. Then they learned about  the programs of TESDA on coffee production which gave them an idea to incorporate the farm to cup program.

They partnered with TESDA particularly to offer programs on coffee nursery and production, and to the 13 municipalities particularly their municipal agriculture offices to help promote the  rich coffee industry. They also want to encourage the youth in the different municipalities to enroll as TESDA scholars particularly in the coffee-related courses which they could use in their towns.

During the launching program,a historical coffee tree planting was also held at the Farm to Cup coffee farm followed by the opening of the Do-It-Yourself or DIY Brew Bar and Café or a coffee shop which allows the customers to prepare and make their own coffee drinks at a coffee shop within the school compound. This also gives the clients additional learning on coffee brewing and mixing.

TESDA also  turned over to the PNC the Certificates of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Program Registration for Coffee Nursery Operation Level II, Coffee Production Level II, and Community Program Development Services Level IV.