A Proposed Framework for Sustainable Cacao-Agribased Marketing System in Lagawe, Ifugao, Philippines

Abstract

One of the Philippines' most lucrative exports, cacao, is traded all over the world. To increase its output, productivity, value-added, and competitiveness, several initiatives were made. However, those initiatives in some way threaten long-term sustainability. Thus, this study explored the current potentials and challenges of cacao producers from inputs to processing and trading. This study used a qualitative-descriptive research design among all registered cacao producers in Lagawe, Ifugao, Philippines. Inductive analysis was used to analyze the gathered data among four cacao producers/ entrepreneurs through key informant interviews and observations. Findings revealed that the cacao industry in the municipality has the potential to be sustainable and be an agent for rural development through initiatives made to build up the said industry. Cacao producers have maintained their farming practices, continuously improving critical factors towards greater access to market share domestically. However, areas for improvement were identified to strengthen the cacao industry from inputs to processing and trading. With this, a comprehensive framework was forwarded as a tool for sustainable cacao production and processing in Lagawe, Ifugao, Philippines. The synchronization of all those aspects is vital to reach sustainability in the cacao agribusiness system in the locality.