Cadiz eyes coffee plant to boost farmer incomes

By Glazyl M. Jopson

CADIZ CITY, Negros Occidental — The Cadiz City government is pushing for the establishment of a coffee processing plant through the corporate social responsibility program of Aboitiz Power Corp. to provide sustainable livelihoods for local farmers.

Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. discussed the proposal Friday on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony for Aboitiz Renewables Inc.’s 239-megawatt-peak solar project and 65-megawatt battery energy storage system in Barangay Luna.

Escalante said the city proposed investing in a coffee processing facility in Barangay Vicente F. Gustilo instead of conducting one-time feeding programs and similar activities.

He said the facility would provide long-term economic benefits to farmers and their communities.

Escalante said Aboitiz Power had agreed to support the initiative through an estimated PHP 15 million to PHP 20 million in corporate social responsibility funding.

The proposed plant would serve as the center of the city’s expanding coffee plantation program, which covers about 250 hectares.

The local government is also pursuing its goal of planting 1 million trees.

Coffee has been identified as one of the city’s priority crops because of its environmental and economic value.

“Coffee is a tree crop that is sustainable. It provides shade, helps protect the environment, and farmers can continue harvesting from the same trees for many years,” Escalante said.

The city has been working with farmers, including beneficiaries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement program.

Escalante said informal settlers enrolled in the program had become tenured migrants, allowing them to legally cultivate land and plant coffee.

To encourage more farmers to enter coffee production, the city has provided free seedlings, fertilizer, farming inputs, technical assistance, and land preparation support.

Farmers contribute labor and maintain their farms.

The Department of Labor and Employment has also supported the initiative through labor assistance under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

Escalante said the coffee processing plant would eventually be turned over to farmers, making them the facility’s owners.

The business model is intended to reduce farmers’ reliance on middlemen by allowing them to sell processed coffee products directly and earn more from their harvests.

Aboitiz would handle the processing component of the project.

“We want our farmers to see that coffee farming is a serious business. With government support and private sector partnerships like Aboitiz Power, we would love to equip more our farmers to enable them to see the benefit of this project,” the mayor said.

The city has also focused on improving the quality of its coffee through careful processing, roasting, and bean blending.

Interest in Cadiz coffee has grown significantly, with online demand exceeding available supply.

Escalante said the city temporarily stopped accepting online orders about two months ago because production could not keep pace with demand.

The proposed processing plant is expected to strengthen Cadiz City’s coffee industry, add value to locally grown beans, and provide farmers with a more sustainable source of income.