Rejuvinated Coffee FruitAt the Department of Agriculture 12- Central Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-CEMIARC), Kidapawan City, Researchers Felix P. Amancio and Jeanette H. Arnado, found out that 30 – year old coffee trees were still productive through rejuvenation.

Coffee is a beverage crop that is always present in the Filipino diet. This is grown in many regions of the Philippines where soil is deep, friable, well-drained, loamy and rich in nutrients. They are usually grown through seeds, but in time, the trees grow tall and production diminishes and cost of production increases. A technology option called rejuvenation can be employed. This is more advantageous than planting seedlings because initial production is attained at earlier time. Coffee rejuvenation technology starts with cutting down (with the use of a chainsaw) old trees 30 – 40 cm from the base/ground and then paint the cut portion with fungicides or insecticides to avoid pests and diseases entry. When sprouts/shoots are about 10 cm high, select and maintain 5 – 7 sprouts. As the vertical sprouts grow, they maybe trained towards the outside of the crown to encourage maximum sunlight utilization The desired plant height is 1 – 2 meters; apply fertilizers based on soil analysis. Employ pests and diseases control as well as weed management.

Flowering/fruiting was observed fourteen (14) months after rejuvenation Coffee berries matured in 6 – 8 months after blooming. Incurred cost of production (per hectare) on its first year of implementation was P20,200 ; second – P15,000 ; third and fourth P13,600. Return on Investment (ROI) obtained for four (4) years implementation was 75.67% ,108.1 % , 131.5%, respectively.

So, if you have old coffee trees in your farms or backyard don’t cut them, rejuvenate them.

Rejuvinated Coffee

Young rejuvinated coffee tree