The local cacao industry received a significant boost as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) turned over P3.02 million worth of post-harvest facilities to AURO Chocolate Inc., aimed at improving bean quality and securing higher incomes for local farmers.
Under its Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID) Growth Project, the DTI delivered 19 all-weather cacao dryers to the chocolate manufacturer in Davao del Sur. The matching grant under the RAPID Growth Project funded P780,000 of the total cost.
The new infrastructure boasts a combined capacity of approximately 31 tons of dried fermented cacao beans. By shielding the harvested crops from unpredictable weather conditions, the processing equipment will drastically reduce post-harvest losses and raise quality standards.
As a major anchor firm in the region, AURO Chocolate sources its supply directly from smallholder farmers and agricultural cooperatives across Davao. The DTI expects the upgraded drying operations to help small-scale growers meet strict commercial standards while providing AURO with a steady, high-grade supply of cacao.
Beyond the drying equipment, the initiative funnels an additional P2.72 million into productive investments for AURO to fortify the local value chain.
DTI officials emphasized that these strategic investments aim to deepen integration among farmers, processors and commercial buyers. By streamlining the supply chain from farm to market, the project seeks to generate sustainable employment, increase rural household incomes, and enhance the global competitiveness of Philippine cacao.