Blessed with rich vegetation and volcanic fertile soil, the economy and people of the Negros Island are largely dependent on agriculture. The island has a wide expanse of arable lands that makes it a perfect place to grow varieties of crops such as sugar cane, rice, bananas and corn.

Negros Occidental Agriculture

Dubbed as the “sugar bowl” of the Philippines, the province of Negros Occidental is well-noted as a prime producer of sugar. It contributes nearly half of the country’s annual total sugar production and generates an estimated revenue of more than 18 billion annually. The sugar industry, which is composed of ten operational mills employing more thousands of workers, is the backbone of the province’s economy. Negros Occidental, is the home of the world’s largest integrated sugar mill and refinery, Victorias Milling Co. (VMC), which has the highest production capacity of 15,000 tonnes of canes everyday.

But aside from sugar, the province also produces other crops. The agriculture industry’s attempt to diversify to ensure food security has been successful, respectively reaching a 33% and 18% growth in the annual production of rice and corn in 2003. In related note, the province’s livestock and fish farming sectors also achieved high production growth during the period.

Working in Sugarcane Alley

Negros Occidental’s active sugar mills:

Lopez Sugar Corp.

Millsite Address: Brgy.Paraiso, Sagay City
Website: www.lopez-sugar-corp.com/
Rated Capacity: 6,000 tonnes

Hawaiian-Phil Co.
Millsite Address: Silay-Hawaiian Central Silay City
Rated Capacity: 7,500 tonnes

Central Azucarera de la Carlota, Inc.
Millsite Address: Brgy. RSB La Carlota City
Rated Capacity: 12,000 tonnes

Sagay Central Inc.
Millsite Address: Brgy. Bato, Sagay City
Rated Capacity: 4,000 tonnes

First Farmers Holding Corp.
Milling Address: Brgy. Dos Hermanas, Talisay City
Tel. No.: (034) 435-4002
Rated Capacity: 4,800 tonnes

Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Co., Inc.
Millsite Address: Binalbagan Municipality
Tel. No.: (034) 388-8221
Fax No.: (034) 388-8535
Rated Capacity: 12,000 tonnes

Dacongcogon Producers’ Coop. Mktg., Inc.
Millsite Address: Tabugon, Kabankalan
Rated Capacity: 2,200 tonnes

Victorias Milling Co.
Milling Site: Victorias City
Website: www.victoriasmilling.com
Rated Capacity: 15,000 tonnes

Negros Oriental Agriculture

Like its neighbouring province, the major economic player of Negros Oriental is the agriculture industry. The province is gifted with vast fertile agricultural land, that primarily produces food crops such as sugar cane, corn, coconut and rice.

The coconut industry is the largest in the province in terms of coverage area, spanning about 42,000 hectares, or about 10% of the province’s total land area. It is followed by the rice and corn sectors, which reached total production of 58,984 metric tons in 2001 out of a 21,210-hectare land area.

Avoid falling coconuts bouncing on your head

The province is also a prime producer of sugar, mango, abaca and other natural fibres. It has a total of 19 towns and cities that are growing abaca; the largest of these abaca-growing communities are Valencia, Sibulan, San Jose, Pamplona and Amlan. The abaca industry has provided livelihood to 1,685 abaca farmers in 2001, according to Oriental Negros Agribizoriental.

Operational agricultural/processing companies:

Dumaguete Coconut Oil Mills Inc. (DUCOM)

Orient Foods Industries Corp.

Central Azucarera de Bais, Inc.
Milling Address: Bais Central
Tel. No.: (035) 541-5120
Fax No.: (035) 541-5120

Herminio Teves & Co
Milling Address: Sicopong, Sta. Catalina

Universal Robina Corp. (URSUMCO )
Milling Address: Alangilanan, Manjuyod