Kabankalan City coffee farmers are seeking support from government and private partners to expand a community-based project that boosts its local production and uplifts livelihoods in upland areas.
Kabankalan Coffee Growers Association (KCGA) president Mary Jane Parcon told Brigada News Philippines on Saturday, June 28, that they are finalizing a proposal to secure support from government and private partners.
She said that since forming in 2022 with 35 members, the association has grown to 55 active farmers who cultivate robusta coffee in the city’s upland barangays.
They aim to boost production, improve farming techniques, and enable more upland farmers to establish their own coffee farms.
She added that they have already planted more than 500 trees covering one hectare in Barangays Tagukon and Carol-an and recently added new plots in Sitio Lucay, Barangay Camingawan.
The association president shared the group started with limited resources but relied on the dedication of its members.
They sourced their seedlings from Central Philippines State University-Main Campus (CPSU), an agricultural university known for its grassroots extension work and vast land reserves.
Negros Occidental currently produces only eight metric tons of coffee per year, spread thinly across 8,000 hectares, far from its true capacity. Most plantations are run by community organizations or NGOs, some under special agreements in protected areas.
For this reason, KCGA wants to help fill that gap by creating a working model of sustainable, smallholder-led coffee farming.
Meanwhile, Parcon believes the project can do more than just increase coffee supply. She said it can provide a dignified livelihood, foster self-reliance among upland families, and build pride in local agriculture.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.