Revitalising Coffee Farming

Sulu's naturally fertile soil supports the growth of coffee, producing around 7,300 metric tons annually. According to the recent Market Chain Value Assessment Report in Sulu and Basilan, conducted by People in Need Philippines in 2021, Sulu ranked third among the top 10 coffee-producing provinces in the Philippines, contributing 8.1% to national production. It also ranked first in producing Excelsa and Liberica varieties and third for Arabica and Robusta nationwide. Patikul has been a leading coffee-producing municipality in Sulu.
Despite high production rates, most coffee remains local to Mindanao. The conflict in Muslim Mindanao has kept this gem hidden from the rest of the country and hindered external interventions, including training on coffee production, processing, and marketing.
Kabbon Takas in Patikul is one of the 20 barangays selected for coffee farming under the Leveraging and Expanding Agri-Aqua Production in Bangsamoro (LEAP) project. This initiative, funded by the European Union, aims to improve the quality and diversity of coffee production in Sulu and Basilan through better access to inputs, extension services, processing facilities, and financial services. According to Ahajani, this is the first time an organisation has intervened in coffee farming in their barangay.

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