The DISADECO coffee is more than a product. It is a manifestation of the continuing journey of the cooperative to empower the coffee growers and drive sustainable development of coffee as a known commodity in Quirino.
Watch the video and learn about the DISADECO Coffee journey, from seeds to grounds.
What started off as a means to support member-farmers in their craft turned out to be an opportunity for new activities and expanded the operations of DISADECO, enabling it to assist more members.
The Diffun Saranay and Development Cooperative encouraged member-growers in the mountain side to cultivate coffee as part of a bigger plan to transition from monocropping to integrated farming. This initiative made a direct impact on livelihoods of farming families, as well as helped sustain the environment.
Coffee growing is just but the start because the cooperative took on the challenge to assist member-growers to sell their coffee produce. Due to lack of coffee buyers in the province, including roasters and importers, the DISADECO management braved to venture into coffee business. It remarkably kicked off the trade by successfully forging a deal with Nestle Philippines. The cooperative as the coffee assembler buys coffee beans from its member-growers, which are then sold to Nestle Philippines. Although it was a good start with the big company, the cooperative felt the need to process coffee beans by itself to increase the price redounding to the farmers. Through this, member-growers of the cooperative can value their coffee in the same way that buyers and consumers do.
In the early phases, coffee beans were being dried and de-hulled at the DISADECO Grains Center, which are then brought to Buguias, Mountain Province for roasting. Roasted beans are transported back to Quirino for grinding and packing. This has been the tedious process for almost two years.
Not long after, the Provincial Government of Quirino and the Department of Agriculture have identified DISADECO as a recipient of the Coffee Processing Center. This is in recognition of DISADECO’s dedication to help coffee growers thrive and sustain their production. Since the construction of the DISADECO Processing Center in February 2019, the course of coffee production from seeds to grounds has been smooth sailing. The cooperative was able to significantly cut expenses on processing the produce outside the province. Coffee-growers were able to sell their beans at a more competitive price.
In its extra effort to help its member-growers promote their coffee, in 2020, DISADECO decided to run its coffee shop and sell coffee beans and grounds directly to consumers.