
Cacao Industry Profile
Cacao is popularly linked with chocolates. In the Philippines, cacao beans are often processed into a ātableya,ā a traditional chocolate confection used in making desserts. Among the Asian countries, the Philippines has a competitive advantage for cacao production due to its strategic location, good climatic conditions, and favorable soil. However, despite its competitive advantage, cacao production in the country can still not meet the current requirements of the growing cacao-based industry due to several problems affecting the industry. Thus, it resorts to importing cacao beans from other producing countries.Ā
Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippines produced 9,341 MT of cacao beans in 2020. The Davao region is the top producer with 7,258 MT of cacao beans, followed by Central Luzon and Zamboanga Peninsula with cacao bean production of 338 MT and 329 MT, respectively.
Problems in the Industry
Some of the identified impediments to cacao production in the country include non-availability of correctly labeled high yielding varieties (HYVs) for planting, thus, farmers frequently resort to planting low yielding and poor quality planting materials; inadequate information on the genetic characterization for specific cacao traits that will improve yield and quality of beans. Low survival and yield in the nursery and plantation due to pest and disease infestation, and inadequate preventive and control measures against pests and diseases; low yield due to unproductive or old cacao plantations; unavailability of reliable maps and information on existing cacao plantings and suitable areas for cacao growing; availability of appropriate innovative equipment to detect defects at early stage of cacao processing to avoid low quality products and improper waste management in cacao post-harvest and processing.

- Price
- Production
- Policies and Programs
- Farm Gate Price
- Retail Price
- Wholesale Price
- Volume
- Value
- Area
- Yield
ISP for Cacao
of smallholder cacao farmers in the countryside.
Strategic R&D
Strategic R&D is DOST-PCAARRDās banner program comprising all R&D activities that are intended to
generate outputs geared towards maximum economic and social benefits
Automated Combined Mechanical Demucilager-Fermenter-Dryer
To further reduce the amount of hard work and operating time-cost of mucilage extracting, fermentation, and drying, one alternative solution...
Read MorePortable Nanobiosensor for Fungal Diseases of Cacao
A nanobiosensor for the electrochemical detection of genomic DNA of P. palmivora in cacao and soil samples was developed. Through...
Read MoreGIS-Based Inventory and Sustainability Assessment for Rubber and Cacao
Identification of potential expansion areas for rubber is essential to increase local production and improve their quality while taking advantage...
Read MoreTechnologies
Products, equipment, and protocols or process innovations developed to improve productivity, efficiency,
quality, and profitability in the agriculture and aquatic industries, and to achieve sustainable
utilization and management of natural resources
Cacao Sensor for Quality Measurement
A device was developed that can measure the quality of wet cacao beans prior to fermentation and good quality beans. The instrument comprises several sensors that measure the sugar content,...
Read MoreTechnology Transfer Initiatives
Technology transfer initiatives ensure that the outputs of R&D and innovations are transformed
into viable and applicable technologies that help intended users
Pinoy S&T Services for Farmers and Entrepreneurs Program (PSF): S&T Community-Based Farm on Enhanced Cacao and Coffee Production in District 1 of Zamboanga del Sur
The project will focus on the 12 municipalities in the 1st District of Zamboanga del Sur. With the assistance of Cong. Yu and other agencies, this project aims to revive...
Read MorePinoy S&T Services for Farmers and Entrepreneurs Program (PSF): S&T Community-Based Farm (STCBF) on Improved Integrated Crop Management Practices (IICMP)
This project is a technology transfer initiative to showcase the technology convergence of the latest S&T practices for cacao rehabilitation in Davao Oriental. It also integrates a component of emergency...
Read MoreS&T Based Farm on the Use of Trichoderma Microbial Inoculant (TMI) for Increased Survival and Early Establishment of Tree Crops in Cacao-Coffee Agroforestry System for the Aytas
This project is only a small part of the on-going agroforestry program of CBMSF. This program presents a long-term livelihood option for the Kanawan Aytas that aims to guarantee protection...
Read MoreCSU IP-TBM Phase II: Patent Mining for Cacao through Enhanced IP-TBM
The project aims to enhance and sustain the operations of the Intellectual Property and Technology Business Development Office (IP-TBM) at the Caraga State University (CSU). The project involves the following:...
Read MoreS&T Community-based Farms (STCBF) for a Sustainable Cacao Production in Bukidnon
Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) is a tree crop that is highly suitable in different crop production systems (intercropping or multi-story farming, agroforestry, etc.). In 2008, cacao was given priority and...
Read MoreEstablishment of Cacao Production with Intercropping System in Typhoon Yolanda Stricken
The project is implemented in the municipality of Jaro, Leyte. This is part of the government’s intervention to help the people of the municipality recover from the aftermath of typhoon...
Read MoreCapacity Building
Capacity building efforts of DOST-PCAARRD seek to develop and enhance the R&D capabilities of researchers
and academic or research institutions through graduate assistantships & non-degree trainings
and development and/or upgrading of research facilities
Policy Research & Advocacy
Analysis of policy concerns and advocacy of science-informed policies ensures that the AANR policy environment is conducive for S&T development
and investments

Competitiveness of Philippine Cacao Production under the ASEAN Economic Community
Producing cacao in the country was found to be cheaper relative to importing from other countries, which makes Philippine cacao competitive under the import substitution scenario. This implies that the country should focus on improving the local industry. Sadly, results show that the country will lose its import competitiveness if yield (1.50 mt/ha) declines by only 9 percent. However, it also highlighted that the country is close to becoming export competitive if given a 2 percent increase in yield or a 2 percent decrease in domestic cost.
Reference:
LapiƱa, G. F. and Andal, E. T. (2017). ASEAN Economic Community: Opportunities and Challenges for the Crops Sector. Los BaƱos, Laguna, Philippines: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources