Coffee is an essential agricultural commodity in Northern Mindanao (Region X), supporting many farming communities and serving as a primary source of income for smallholder growers. The region significantly contributes to national coffee production, according to recent reports from the Department of Agriculture. However, farmers face challenges such as unstable prices, productivity constraints, climate pressures, and supply chain coordination issues. Global assessments further highlight that inefficiencies in value creation and distribution often limit farmers' earnings, especially when they sell unprocessed cherries and depend heavily on traders.
This Policy Note examines how persistent productivity and market challenges—stemming from aging trees, limited access to quality seedlings, weak postharvest practices, trader dominance, and underdeveloped cooperatives—constrain income growth for smallholder farmers in Northern Mindanao. It underscores the region's strong potential for sustainable expansion and highlights the need for investments in value addition, climate-smart technologies, cooperative development, and improved market linkages to enhance competitiveness and support long-term resilience in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and other coffee-producing communities in Region X.
