The brewing success of Baslay coffee
DUMAGUETE CITY – The aroma of freshly brewed Baslay coffee could soon wafting from the coffee shops in this city and resort cafés in the town of Dauin.
This after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Negros Oriental hosted a coffee brewing and tasting event here recently to encourage local resort and café owners to buy and support the locally grown coffee.
They were given a free taste of Baslay coffee, which comes in two varieties: Arabica and Robusta.
DTI SME Senior Trade and Industry Specialist Maribel Sumanoy said that at the 2nd Coffee Conference held in Baguio City, DTI sent samples of Baslay coffee for evaluation and it had a high cupping grade which is good for specialty coffee.
Baslay coffee is grown by the Baslay Farmers Association (BFA), a recipient of DTI’s Shared Service Facility (SSF) Project.
Last year, the DTI turned over equipment like dehaulers, depulpers, dehumidifiers, sorting tables to the association and sponsored training on coffee harvesting, dry method processing and understanding standards and grading system.
Sumanoy said the DTI is helping BFA members demand a better price for their beans.
The coffee plantation is near Mt. Talinis, inside a reforestation project of the Philippine National Oil Company (now Energy Development Corporation or EDC) to give livelihood assistance to former kaingineros.
“Before 1984, we were all forest occupants. We were all forest destroyers of Baslay forests,” said BFA Adviser Ruel Perez.
In 1984, they kaingineros were organized into an informal group through the initiative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine National Oil Company.
“We were practicing these destructive farming practices – we called it the maganas. You have to clear this forested area so you can plant corn and your first and second harvest will be abundant. After three to four years, when there is a decline in harvest, you look for another area to deforest. That’s how we do it. It’s our way of life that is exhausting but there is no success,” Perez said. (PIA)