Bayawan Valley Farmers’ Organization

Executive Summary

The Bayawan Valley Farmers’ Organization

Bayawan Valley Farmers’ is a non-stock non-profit organization registered (registry needs update) with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.). It is a non-partisan, non-religious organization. BVFO is primarily aimed at countryside Social and Economic Development. It is a non-government organization.

Visions

Development of Bayawan valley when realized means prosperity not only for a few. It means prosperity for several hundred farmers or lot owners of the valley. Several hundred families more will benefit by job opportunities that will be directly created. With the valley earning huge amount by agriculture, equitable and wide distribution of that wealth in the valley, we foresee a boom in micro and small to medium constructions of infrastructures as the community develops. It will need people like carpenters, masons, steel men, and all other construction workers. A condition conducive to general business, commerce and trade as consumerism is developed, will likewise be created. This will draw in more people and capital into the valley. A progressive community, to gain weight and momentum, will develop in place to contribute to the whole economy. An economic hub that will also enhance its neighbors will be created.

Progress of Bayawan valley furthermore means halfway at resolving the social problems in the area. Child labor, out-of-school youths, illiteracy, many petty crimes and more, have their roots in poverty. P50.00 (US$1.00 = PhP46.00) daily wage is still practiced in the valley by employers who are, themselves, living below poverty level. Also, with economic opportunities in the valley, it is possible to vacate the forestland of destitute slash-burn settlers wherein reforestation if any, will then be possible.

Agro-Economic Potentials

At Present: Typical – traditional farming – rice and corn augmented by cassava and variety of root crops, banana and others. They are mainly subsistence farming. There is sugarcane production by settlers. On assumption that 2/3 of overall area is fit for mechanized plowing and a third is made up of pockets and strips of steeps and gullies, therefore:

The Principal Prospect: If the valley is fully developed to sugarcane, it has the potential to produce 200,000 metric Tons Cane (TC), roughly estimated, or 340,000 Lkg sugar with about 25,000 metric tons Molasses (10 – 15%) at moderate average 1.7 PSTC. Purity Sugar per TC exceeding 2.0 has been achieved in the valley. (Lkg = 50kg unit brown sugar)

Secondary Prospect: Agro-forestry to cover the third of the territory – Abaca production in areas unfit for plowed agriculture. Region, topography and soil are favorable to Abaca. Like its native and wild relative – the Pakul, which thrives well in the region, Abacas are good at preventing topsoil erosion. They are suited to Gully Saturation Planting or GSP. Wherein they are saturated, Cogon and much type of weeds are no competition. They are less prone to grassfire. They require less intensive care. They are compatible with taller trees.

Social-Economic Agenda

Whereas, the people of Bayawan valley is generally poor and nothing substantial has been done without funding;

Whereas, there are problems why landowners cannot develop their farms by individual approach, or there exist problems insurmountable for individuals;

Whereas, there are landowners who have never exercised actual control of their land, there are those who have actually lost their land to lending institutions but are interested in repossessing the lots that have remained idle up to this day;

Whereas, there are settlers occupying farm lots not their own, many of them for generations now;

BVFO has organized and is helping instate or reinstate absentee landowner-members. It is helping locate or relocate landless-members. It intends to operate corporate type farming managed by a cooperative or CORPORATIVE FARMING.

Location

Bayawan valley is located in southern Negros Island, central Philippines. Greater part of the valley is located in Sitio Montelo, Barangay Pingot, Ilog, Negros Occidental. This is comprised of Gss 851-D, Banso, Magubot, Tilingtilingan and portion of Atikatikon. Part of the valley is in the territory of Sitio Hamham, Brgy Lucotan, Kabankalan, Negros Occidental: this is Atikatikon, Hamham, and Kabagsanan.

Land Area

The valley is roughly estimated at three thousand hectares (3,000 Has): Gss 851-D is about 950 hectares, titled since the 60s. Banso, Magubot, Tilingtilingan and others, about a thousand hectares in the Ilog side of the territory, are areas lately released for agricultural use: land titles are either issued or are under process. Hamham (600 has) and Kabagsanan (±500 has) are pastoral leases, defunct since the 70s that are occupied by settlers.

Access by Road

The valley is about 44 kilometers from the city of Kabankalan. It is accessable via Brgy Salong, Kabankalan, through Tapi and Magballo. It is also accessable via Brgy Dancalan, Ilog, through Tabu, Tapi and Magballo.

It is about 25 kilometers from the city of Bayawan, Negros Oriental if the old logging road linking Banso with Brgy Tayawan, Bayawan City, is passable. It has road link with Mabinay, Negros Oriental, via Bantayan and Baras.

Email to: bayawanvalleyfarmers@yahoo.com