From sayote to coffee

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

- CHIT U. JUAN

How do we transform or change the mindset of sayote (chayote) farmers to convert to crops that are safer for the environment and will give sustainable incomes? If you have the chance to visit the Cordillera range, look around for sayote farms, especially in Benguet province. On the steep slopes and zigzag roads, farmers turn to sayote as a cash crop. But to do this, they clear the forest and of course cause damage to the soil and forest cover.

It is not easy to keep yourself bent over to check the vegetables under the thick leafy cover, but it provides a constant income stream for the upland farmer. But a woman farmer said it is easy to grow, does not require spraying and provides well for their everyday needs. A bag of sayote can be sold farmgate for P20-22.50/ kilo, and this ends up being P80/kilo at your local supermarket.

A progressive non-government organization (NGO) working with us in the coffee areas have a formula for "dignified partnership" between their NGO and the very producers of sayote and coffee. The community workers endeavor to change the mindset of the farmers, slowly but surely, whilst getting their trust to change over from sayote to growing coffee. The formula entails speaking the local language, knowing the community leaders, helping plan their future which includes their own wishes and dreams. They are shown examples of how coffee can be a more sustainable crop, not destroying but adding to forest cover and bearing fruits every year for the next 50 or so years, well into their grandchildren's time.