News Details

NegOr’s Award-Winning Coffee Cooperative Expands 88 Hectares to Meet Rising Demand and Boost Climate-Smart Farming

NPO

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December 14, 2025

DUMAGUETE CITY – The multi-awarded Baslay Highland Agriculture Cooperative (BASHACO) in Dauin, Negros Oriental is expanding its coffee production area as demand for its renowned Baslay Highland Brew continues to surge.

BASHACO president and chief executive officer Ruel Perez said on Friday that the cooperative has secured an additional 88 hectares of government land under lease, enabling a major expansion of its operations.

“Currently, the cooperative has 60,000 coffee seedlings in its nursery, and that will be enough for the 88-hectare expansion that will help us bounce back,” Perez said.

He said last year’s El Niño episode and the broader impacts of climate change significantly reduced their harvest, leaving them with less than 20 percent of their usual 16-ton production. This shortfall prevented the cooperative from meeting growing market demand.

Despite the challenges, BASHACO continues to champion climate-smart and sustainable farming through an agroforestry approach. Aside from coffee, the cooperative cultivates and maintains forest trees, especially native and endemic species.

To sustain operations while recovering, BASHACO is temporarily sourcing coffee beans from partner cooperatives and associations supported by the organization.

Originally established as the Baslay Farmers’ Association, the group evolved into BASHACO in 2019 after being granted 120 hectares of land by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Community-Based Forest Management Agreement. Today, more than 150 members are actively engaged in communal and individual coffee farming.

BASHACO has also diversified into cacao production and intercrop farming, including processing tablea (ground chocolate paste).

In June, the cooperative received the Golden Quill Award in the Community Relations Category from First Gen–Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in Vancouver, Canada. First Gen-EDC, the country’s largest renewable energy company, praised BASHACO for its strong communication practices and sustainable community development model.

Perez emphasized the invaluable support that First Gen-EDC has provided throughout the cooperative’s growth. The energy company operates the 222.5-megawatt geothermal power plants in Valencia, Negros Oriental, and has long partnered with BASHACO in initiatives promoting sustainable agriculture and community upliftment.

— NPO News Team | PNA-PR