coffee

IN THE northernmost part of Sultan Kudarat lies Lebak, a first-class municipality marked by its expansive coastlines and mountain ranges. Home to 90,000 people (2020 Philippine census), the town’s economy depends heavily on farming and fishing. 

Yet, despite its classification, Lebak continues to grapple with deep-seated poverty. With a poverty rate of 35.17% – more than double the national average of 15.5% – many communities, especially in the upland sitios, are held back by unpaved road networks and limited access to services.

One such sitio is Keytodac, a remote, mountainous barangay located nearly two hours from the town proper. While most residents rely on corn and vegetable farming,  a new crop is brewing hope: coffee. At the heart of this transformation is a cooperative, fueled by a shared vision to uplift the lives of smallholder farmers and bring lasting change to the community.

From vision to action

The Keytodac Coffee Growers Inc. (KCGI) was founded in 2008 by Reynaldo Ostan and 43 fellow coffee farmers, aiming to break free from the cycle of debt and dependency on traders who controlled pricing and provided cash advances. 

“It was created solely to uplift the lives of marginalized farmers in the area,” said KCGI General Manager Crisanto Pascual. 

The group sought support from the government and development institutions for working capital, marketing, and organizational capacity building. 

Their breakthrough came in 2016 when they partnered with the PinoyMe Foundation for the Reducing Rural Poverty through Agroenterprise Project (RRPTA), funded by the Gerry Roxas Foundation. The project provided KCGI with working capital for coffee consolidation and trading, enabling them to aggregate 17 metric tons of green coffee beans. 

It was also during this partnership that KCGI was introduced to the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF). 

Strengthening Ground for Growth

In 2018, PEF provided Php 1 million working capital to KCGI for trading, capacity building, and post-harvest facilities. The impact was immediate: KCGI’s consolidated volume grew from 17 to 20 metric tons of GCB within a year.

The partnership also provided relief to the partner farmers in the consolidation project. KCGI’s premium price is Php 5 higher than traders’ prices for coffee. 

Now known as Keytodac Coffee Growers Agricultural Cooperative (KCGAC), the organization has become a key consolidator in the upland barangays in Lebak. It provides support to other people’s organizations in neighboring barangays. 

Government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), have increased their support for KCGAC’s initiatives. 

Today, the cooperative markets its own coffee brand, Kape On, which translates to “good coffee” in Manobo. The brand has gained traction in regional and national trade fairs and is now available in local markets across the province.

“I believe producing good coffee is not just about proper farm practices and maintenance. It’s also about unity, dedication, and partnership towards success,” Pascual said.