“We want KSU to make a difference…we are also a partner of our farmers” - Pres. Doctor vows to bring knowledge and technology closer to coffee farmers

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Kalinga State University (KSU), the lone university in the Province of Kalinga, has reaffirmed its commitment to serving communities and making a difference by bringing knowledge, research, and appropriate technologies closer to farmers and other stakeholders.

KSU President Dr. Joy Grace P. Doctor expressed the commitment during the Second Kalinga Invitational Coffee Quality and Sustainability Congress held September 8-9 at the KSU Bulanao Campus.

Doctor emphasized that coffee is more than a product for Kalinga, as it serves as a source of livelihood for many families and individuals. More than 2,600 farmers are engaged in the province’s coffee industry.

As part of the academe’s contribution to the industry, Doctor said KSU remains committed to sharing knowledge and appropriate technologies with communities through its extension services, training, and research programs.

She added that the university’s academic programs continue to equip students to become future researchers, entrepreneurs, agricultural professionals, and leaders who can contribute to the growth and sustainability of Kalinga’s coffee industry.

“We want Kalinga State University to be a university that serves and makes a difference — a university that brings knowledge from the classroom and laboratory to the farms and communities,” Doctor said.

Doctor also underscored the importance of collaboration between the university, coffee farmers, government agencies, and other industry stakeholders.

She said stronger partnerships can create greater opportunities for communities by combining the experience, knowledge, and expertise of different sectors.

“As a university, Kalinga State University has an important role to play. We are not only an institution for teaching and learning, we are also a partner of our farmers, communities, government agencies, and industry. Through our research and development programs, we seek solutions to the challenges faced by our coffee farmers,” she said.

KSU’s support for the coffee sector includes research and development, extension services, farmer training, knowledge and technology transfer, and academic initiatives aimed at strengthening coffee production, processing, quality, and sustainability.

Through these efforts, the university continues to support the development of a better, more sustainable, and more competitive coffee industry in Kalinga, while preparing students to contribute to the province’s agricultural and economic development.