Cacao, also referred to as cocoa in English-speaking regions, stands as the principal ingredient in the production of various chocolate-based products. This prized ingredient finds widespread usage in countries renowned for their chocolate production, including Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and the United States, among others.
Cacao trees typically flourish in regions characterized by consistent temperatures, high humidity, plentiful rainfall, and nitrogen-rich soil, hence they are indigenous to the Amazon. In the Philippines, this commodity is predominantly cultivated in Davao, the nation’s chocolate capital.
Given the attributes of cacao trees, they find a favorable environment in certain areas of the Cordillera region. With this, Mrs. Edna Norial took that advantage and cultivated cacao trees in her hometown of Lamut, Ifugao.
Originally from Binalonan, Pangasinan, and guided by her Christian faith, she eventually established her home in Lamut alongside her business partner and husband, Lemuel Norial, who not only serves as the inspiration behind her distinctive venture, Love Nature (LN) Farm, but also oversees the management of their 5,000 cacao trees in their expansive 5-hectare plantation.
The start of something new
Prior to Edna’s venture in agriculture, she pursued a course in Theology hoping to become a pastor, having grown up within a close-knit Christian community. Her husband was already into agriculture when they met as this was his way of life. However, she didn’t have a strong inclination toward farming, which is why she was actively involved in a daycare center, where she dedicated her time to teaching children, particularly during the early years.
But as her children grew more self-sufficient and required less constant attention, she finally embraced farming, with a special focus on organic agriculture (OA). She began crafting various organic concoctions, and due to her natural gift for communication, she became an advocate for OA. In addition to this, she ventured into selling their organic products. Since then, Edna and her husband have garnered support from the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera (DA-CAR).
A Bitter Start
Their farm initially had two cacao trees when, in 2015, they received an invitation from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to undergo training in cacao production, a venture not initially in their plans. During this training, they were provided with a kilogram of cacao seeds, which provided them with a yield of up to 800 cacao trees. These trees, in turn, became their primary source for seedlings.
The phrase ‘There is money in cacao’ remained etched in her memory, serving as a constant reminder. Her determination to cultivate cacao was further fueled by the DOST’s vision of establishing a chocolate factory in Ifugao, which became her driving force.
Edna had a rough start in cacao processing due to limited capital resources, which meant she didn’t have access to chocolate-making equipment. Her initial process involved manual grinding of cacao beans using a mortar and pestle. At times, she even had to travel to town to get the beans grounded.
As she was inexperienced in both chocolate-making and business, she really had a hard time processing cacao beans. But despite her cacao being organically produced, her farm was messy and unorganized.
A Delectably Determined Approach to GAP
Because of her faith in God, her determination, her love for exploration and experimentation, and that particular phrase that always reminds her, she overcame all her obstacles by challenging herself to improve her knowledge and skills.
In 2017, spurred by the encouragement of the Municipal Agriculture Office, she embarked on a journey of good agricultural practices (GAP) training. Alongside, she actively sought out additional training and technical guidance from various government agencies, which significantly enriched her cacao endeavor. The knowledge she gained from these GAP sessions served as her driving force to pursue certification diligently.
In 2021, Edna achieved a significant milestone when she was issued her GAP certification. This certification, combined with her dedication to OA, instills a profound sense of confidence in the safety and superior quality of her products. “Through GAP, everything is in order, from having proper storage for farm tools to efficient waste management. I find great satisfaction in maintaining a well-organized farm. Additionally, it serves as a reassuring guarantee of the safety and quality of our food products, which is especially crucial in food processing. This is what I appreciate in GAP,” she said.
She also mentioned that her GAP certification paved the way for her farm to become a learning site for agriculture, welcoming her fellow farmers, cacao enthusiasts, and students who are eager to expand their knowledge. Moreover, her farm serves as an essential training ground for agriculture students completing their on-the-job training. The assistance she received through her learning site accreditation and government loan programs were used to purchase machines and to improve her cacao processing.
Sweet Advantage
She took her GAP certification seriously. This commitment transformed her into a purpose-driven producer of safe and high-quality food. Being an OA practitioner herself, she exercises discipline in all her farming activities.
Her GAP certification and the other resources it brought her also played a pivotal role in securing a License to Operate (LTO) from the Food and Drug Administration and her farm being an agri-tourism site. Her GAP certification not only facilitated her farm’s sustainability but also significantly enhanced their overall livelihood.
Income and market
Since her GAP certification, she claimed that her income exponentially doubled. Her products have found a thriving market primarily overseas, such as Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA. Furthermore, her cacao beans have recently made their way to Andorra. Locally, she receives orders from Mindanao, while her tablea is sold by kilo in Tarlac, Valenzuela, Pangasinan, and Baguio City.
Because of her passion for experimenting, she has innovated an array of cacao-based products that extended beyond the commonly recognized tablea and flavored chocolates. Her inventive range includes chocoffee (a fusion of cacao and robusta coffee), cacao jelly, a delectable cacao sweet chili sauce crafted from cacao drippings, cacao vinegar, extracted through cacao fermentation, pure cacao syrup, truffles, and even fossilized cacao leaves. She was also taught to make flour using the cacao pod. Currently, she is experimenting with making other cacao by-products like tea, juice, and alcoholic beverages.
She proudly shared that her farm also became an opportunity for other cacao farmers. She extends her support by making a market for raw materials to other cacao growers and serving as a consolidator for cacao wet beans.
In the association where she is a member, the Cacao Growers and Processors Association of Lamut (CGPAL), is also selling cacao seedlings.
DA’s Lending Hand
Her certification also proved beneficial as it opened doors to numerous assistance from DA-CAR, specifically through the High Value Crops Development Program, which includes palettes, that was also needed for acquiring LTO, food-grade fermenter boxes, UV plastic sheets, crates, tub (batya), fertilizers, drum, and farm tools. She also received various cacao-related trainings and seminars, technical assistance, and travels.
Message of gratitude and encouragement
As she was sharing all the support given to her, she wholeheartedly expressed her gratitude to DA-CAR for their constant support and encouragement to farmers, especially to cacao farmers.
She also noted that despite a career shift, she continues to share the Word of God through her agricultural endeavors, serving as a Resource Person in cacao production and processing during numerous speaking engagements. “I am deeply grateful to DA-CAR because of their programs, the cacao industry and our livelihood has improved. They provided the materials that were beyond our means that has propelled us forward.
Moreover, our GAP certification has led to our farm being recognized as a learning site for cacao production. I never anticipated that the Lord would choose me as an instrument to assist others. The DA-CAR is one of my key partners in my cacao venture,” she expressed, and also emphasized, that she will always remember the encouragement from DA-CAR to venture into processing for value addition.
Furthermore, she urged fellow farmers to pursue GAP certification for the enhancement of their farms, emphasizing its role in ensuring the safety and quality of products for consumers. In addition, she encouraged them to explore processing as a means of value addition, sharing that it was through this path that she discovered the opportunity to increase her earnings. “Being a part of this program is truly beneficial, as it guarantees the safety and quality of our food. GAP not only provides farmers with comprehensive training in proper farming practices but also opens doors to various interventions from DA. I encourage everyone not to be disheartened, for the Lord is ever-present, ready to lend a helping hand. Farming can indeed be profitable, provided we harness the full potential of our produce. Business thrives when we learn to process our own goods, especially with the resources already at our disposal. Whenever possible, let us seize the opportunity to process our produce for value addition,” she said.
Her vision of becoming a globally recognized manufacturing company of superior quality cacao products promoting sustainable organic and GAP farming, environment conservation, and skills enhancement through farm tourism, training, and development continues to drive her towards her goal of having her own chocolate factory in the future. Through GAP, she said, God Grants us Abundance and Prosperity (GAP). By CEWaytan