From coconut to cacao, a farmer’s journey of growth unfolds in Leon, Iloilo

A new chapter is beginning in Brgy. Dorog, Leon, Iloilo where cacao seedlings from the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) program are turning a coconut farm into a story of growth, resilience, and opportunity for Vicente Caquilgan.

In 2022, the program provided him with seedlings, technical guidance, and market support to intercrop within his coconut farm—transforming previously idle spaces into productive land and creating new sources of income.

Vicente grew up in a family of farmers, learning early that patience and dedication are the cornerstones of farming. Their more than one-hectare farm had long relied on coconut, processed into copra and sold either to visiting traders or transported to the town market. When prices were favorable, earnings were enough to meet daily needs, when prices fell, budgeting became difficult.

“When copra prices are high, we can earn enough- but when they drop, making ends meet becomes difficult,” Vicente recalled.

Over time, the coconut trees aged and became less productive. Portions of the land were converted to rice to supplement income, and past attempts to plant cacao had failed due to lack of proper care and technical knowledge. The trees survived but did not bear fruit. Vicente realized that planting along was not enough, crops must be carefully managed to thrive.

CFIDP offered the tools, resources, and guidance to do it right. Vicente received cacao seedlings and attended technical trainings on proper spacing, pruning, fertilization, pest and disease management, and post-harvest handling. He saw potential in the open areas between his coconut trees- spaces that had previously gone unused- and planted cacao again, this time with dedication and proper care.

“Now I focus on properly caring for my cacao plants- unlike before when we planted but failed to manage it properly,” he explained.

Three years later, in 2025, Vicente’s cacao trees bore fruit. His first harvest produced 30 kilograms of wet cacao beans, sold at ₱70 per kilogram for a total of ₱2,100. Guided by the Municipal Agriculture Office of Leon, he adopted proper drying techniques for his second harvest, producing 20 kilograms of dried beans sold at ₱120 per kilogram, earning ₱2,400.

Though the volume was smaller, the higher price demonstrated the value of proper post-harvest management. The shift from wet to dried beans highlighted a key lesson- quality directly impacts income.

Today, cacao complements Vicente’s coconut and rice production, reducing dependence on a single commodity. When coconut prices fall, cacao provides an alternative income stream. When rice harvests are seasonal, cacao support household earnings. Vicente’s intercropping approach allowed him to make the most of his coconut farm and other plots. Areas that were previously idle now generate steady returns for the farm.

The CFIDP program is designed to strengthen farm resilience, promote diversification, and encourage value-adding practices for smallholder farmers. Through seedlings, technical training, and market guidance, the program helped Vicente transform his farm and explore the potential of intercropping to increase income and productivity.

Encouraged by early results, Vicente hopes to expand his cacao area if more space becomes available. He also shares practical advice with fellow farmers: “When you plant, don’t simply leave it unattended. It needs care and close monitoring. When you nurture it well, the outcome improves.”

He credits government support for making the transformation possible. “The support from the DA and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Leon has been a great help. Without them facilitating this project, we would not have been able to start planting cacao again,” he said.

While his cacao enterprise is still in its early stages, the foundation is strong. What began as vacant spaces between aging coconut trees is gradually becoming a productive and income-generating component of a diversified farm. Vicente Caquilgan’s journey is defined not by volume but by steady progress, informed decisions, and the willingness to learn.

With CFIDP’s support, transformation is unfolding steadily. Each harvest, however, modest, strengthens the farm, build resilience, and opens new opportunities- proving how smallholder farmers can thrive with the right guidance and resources.###

Story by Myleen S. Subang and Photos by MSSubang & Cristine F. Lauresta/DA-RAFIS 6