Bacolod communities diversify to other crops

From just producing sugarcane before, 60 farmers in Bacolod, Negros Occidental have  diversified with the help of a water project of the Coca Cola Foundation and AIDFI, a non profit social enterprise. 

These farmers now plant vegetables and other crops also.

Danilo Medina, a Bacolod farmer who used to depend solely on sugarcane, hasbenefitted from the water project of the foundation and AIDFI since 2020. 

The Agos gravity-flow water system in Purok 16, Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod, supports over 60 local farmers and provides water for irrigation, household use, and livestock.

AIDFI stands for Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc., which helps rural communities by providing appropriate technology for basic services and income generation. 

Its popular initiative is the hydraulic ram pump, a water pump that can bring up water without electricity or fuel. 

The hydraulic ram pumps are installed in waterless communities to provide a sustainable and low-cost source of clean water.  

The AIDFI empowers communities by providing them with essential technology and training local technicians for maintenance, which helps to create local jobs and build sustainable systems. It also teaches them other livelihood projects like the making of lemongrass essential oil, which provides year-round income for farming communities.

Founded in early 1990s, the AIDFI responds to the social and economic crisis in Negros Occidental following the collapse of the sugar industry. 

A group including Dutch marine engineer Auke Idzenga established the organization to address the basic needs of displaced farmers. For years, farmers in the eastern part of Bacolod City struggled to keep their farmlands productive, as the lack of a steady water supply left once-fertile fields parched.

Judy Jinson Sr., president of the Adiangawan Small Farmers Association (ASFA) and of the Bacolod City Integrated Small Farmers Federation Inc. said that water has long been the most essential yet scarce resource in their area, making it difficult for farmers to sustain their livelihoods. 

“Sometimes, we take on any kind of work just so we can buy rice and the things our children need for school,” Jinson said in the local dialect. 

During the dry season, he said, most crops wither before harvest due to no irrigation.

City Agricultural Officer Mary Jo Cordero confirmed the persistent water shortage remains as the major challenge for Bacolod’s farming communities. 

Nearly 100,000 hectares remain planted with sugarcane in the provincial capital, while only about 350 hectares are used for rice and 80 to 100 hectares for high-value crops such as vegetables. Although efforts to diversify have begun, the lack of irrigation facilities still limits the city’s capacity to further expand agricultural production, Cordero noted.

“For water, we rely on other line agencies. Unfortunately, we still don’t have an established irrigation system in Bacolod,” she said.

The country’s irrigated areas total 10.3 million hectares, with roughly 3.1 million hectares considered irrigable for rice and corn, NIA records show.

In Negros Occidental, the Bago River Irrigation System (BRIS), located south of Bacolod, originally served 12,700 hectares of farmland across Bago, La Carlota, Bacolod, Murcia, Pulupandan, San Enrique, and Valladolid. The project later expanded BRIS coverage to 13,277 hectares, benefiting approximately 5,301 farmers.

Recent reports indicate that BRIS serves irrigators’ associations in six local government units, comprising the Federation of Irrigators Association (FIACN). These include the cities of Bago and La Carlota, as well as the municipalities of Murcia, Valladolid, San Enrique, and Pulupandan, or a total program area of 10,920 hectares.

In 2024, BRIS faced low water levels due to El Niño. As of October 25, the dam’s water level was recorded at 3.50 meters above reservoir bottom (MARB), slightly above its normal operating level of 3 MARB, following recent rainfall.

“The BRIS is able to provide water only to the rice fields located in Brgy. Sum-ag,” Cordero said.

She said the system uses rotational water distribution, but supplies can become limited during the dry season, particularly in southernmost areas of Bacolod, such as Sum-ag, which lies at the tail end of the BRIS.

During these periods, farmers rely on pumps to bring water to their fields, she stressed.

“During the El Niño, the LGU provided hoses to farmers and barangays to augment their water system.”

Cordero said Coca-Cola Foundation and the AIDFI implemented a gravity-flow water system in Purok 16, Barangay Alangilan.

“We are very thankful for the Coca-Cola project. It’s encouraging to see the private sector showing genuine interest in agriculture.”

Established in 2020, the project features a 100,000-liter reservoir that has since revitalized farming in the eastern part of the city and improved irrigation access.

AIDFI Operations Manager Cherie Gomez said the system, originally designed for vegetable farms, now irrigates around 17 to 19 hectares of farmland.

“The vegetables are not irrigated daily, but this setup has been a big help. Farmers now have a steady supply of water for their high-value crops through distribution lines connected directly to their farms,” Gomez was quoted as saying.

As of March 2025, the system produces an average of 50,867 liters of water per day, benefitting the ASFA’s 68 members, up from 28 when the project began.

Gomez added that the water is now used not only for crop cultivation but also for domestic needs and livestock production, helping strengthen the community’s overall agricultural resilience.

Danilo Medina, a farmer with nearly 25 years of experience, saidthat before the intervention, he cultivated only sugarcane, earning about P50,000 a year, an amount he said was often just enough to cover debts and basic needs.

With the availability of a reliable water source, he has since shifted to vegetable farming, which allows for more frequent harvests and a steadier income.

“Before, it was all sugarcane because there was no water. Now, vegetable farming has become more profitable and sustainable,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Medina said his ampalaya (bitter gourd), one of the main vegetables and local produce he grows, is sold in the Libertad Market and to retail outlets such as Robinsons and SM City.

He said he harvests twice a week, selling the ampalaya at P80 per kilo wholesale in Libertad, with an average yield of 150 kilos. This amounts to around P12,000 gross income per harvest, and after deducting P2,000 in expenses, he nets about P10,000, earning roughly P80,000 a month from ampalaya alone. Now even during the dry season, harvest is better and crops bear bountiful fruits.

He recalled that his children initially opposed building the water tank on their property, believing it would take up planting space. But one of his sons persuaded him, saying, “Tay, just allow it, having water up here on the hill is a miracle.”

Medina said he is grateful he agreed, as the project propped up their income and encouraged three of his children in farming. One of them has since graduated and now raises poultry and grows his own crops.

“With steady income from farming, we don’t have to worry about daily expenses anymore, Medina said, adding that he has been able to invest in a tricycle and motorcycle.

Jinson, who has been with the association for nine years, said farmers used to sell their produce only within their local area, relying on middlemen because their harvests were too small to sell directly. But with improved irrigation and support, they now handle marketing themselves and have established partnerships with major retail outlets.

“Actually, the mission of the Coca-Cola Foundation is to empower communities, by promoting community development and empowerment through our water programs,” said Monina Pacheco, Grand Portfolio Manager for Water Stewardship at the Coca-Cola Foundation.

The foundation uses specific criteria for selecting communities, topmost of which is water access. Other factors include the community’s ability to manage the water project, and their capacity to sustain it over time, she explained.

The association holds monthly meetings to monitor the water supply. “We check if the water supply is being properly maintained and identify any problems or issues,” he said. 

Gomez reminded the community to take good care of the system, noting that everyone now understands how vital water is to daily life. “We always emphasize the importance of maintaining, sustaining, and protecting it, not just for themselves but for the next generation who will also depend on this water,” she said.

The farmers have vowed not to let their children go through the same hardships they once faced when water was scarce.