The story of Dolores Ceralbo: Building a legacy for young Fairtrade farmers and women at Pandanon Integrated Balangon Farmers’ Association (PIBFA) ; a Fairtrade sugar small scale producer organistion, Philippines

“I grew up in Barangay Pandanon, in the Philippines in a humble farming family, the seventh of fourteen children. Life wasn’t easy. My family, like many others, depended on small-scale farming for survival. Each day, I carried baskets of bananas and small fruits to sell at school, not worrying about books or playtime like other children, but about whether I would have something to sell the next morning, to help her family put food on the table.

The challenges taught me resilience, the value of hard work, and the importance of perseverance. As I grew older, I worked hard to build my organic integrated farm. My goal wasn’t just to grow crops but to cultivate opportunities—opportunities for my community to thrive and for our land to flourish through sustainable and organic practices. Farming was never just about the produce. It was about giving back to the land and the people.

In 2006, I co-founded the Pandanon Integrated Balangon Farmers’ Association (PIBFA), a Fairtrade sugar sugar producer organization to help small farmers, like myself, access better markets through Fairtrade certification. Through our work, we’ve empowered smallholder farmers to embrace sustainable farming methods. We’ve also gained support from programs like the Department of Agriculture’s SAAD, which provided us with rice and mushroom production projects, helping to improve livelihoods in our community.

Fairtrade opened up a new world for us. We were no longer just selling to survive; we were building a future. It ensures that we are treated fairly, with no discrimination, and it pushes us to work in harmony with the environment. One of the most important aspects is that it helps prevent child labor in farming, making sure our children stay in school and have a better future.

If more companies embraced Fairtrade, it would uplift so many Filipino farmers. We’d earn fair prices for our crops and benefit from the Fairtrade Premium, which funds projects that support our communities. With the challenges we face—like fluctuating prices, climate change, and lack of market access—Fairtrade gives us the training, knowledge, and resources we need to adopt sustainable farming practices, improve our yields, and become more resilient. It helps us grow, not just as farmers, but as empowered, smarter individuals. This has helped me gain more confidence to represent Fairtrade producers at local, national, and international events.

I will always be grateful for the opportunity to represent our sugarcane producers at the Biofach event in Nuremberg, Germany in 2018. It was a turning point for me. Meeting our muscovado sugar buyers there and sharing my story as an organic Fairtrade farmer helped me realize how far we had come and how much more we could achieve.

Fairtrade is a lifeline for us farmers.

Beyond my organization, I actively advocate for Fairtrade principles to ensure that small-scale farmers receive fair prices for their produce, gain access to better markets, and have opportunities to develop their skills in sustainable farming. Through my leadership, I’ve helped raise awareness and promote the adoption of organic agriculture in our province, which has not only boosted farm productivity but also strengthened our commitment to protecting the environment.

But my work doesn’t stop with Fairtrade. I’m also committed to empowering women and young people in agriculture. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, I understand the challenges faced by female farmers with limited access to land, financial constraints, and fewer leadership opportunities. That’s why I’ve worked to mentor women in my community, encouraging them to take on leadership roles in our cooperative and agricultural ventures. Through training and support, many of these women have become independent farm owners and strong community leaders.

I am also deeply concerned about the younger generation turning away from farming. Today’s youth often prefer air-conditioned office jobs over the hard work of the fields. But I’m determined to show them that agriculture is a viable and fulfilling career by training women and youth to take leadership roles in cooperatives and agricultural enterprises and by strengthening networks and access to resources to make farming more profitable and attractive to the next generation.

With my passion and leadership, I will continue to pave the way for future generations of organic farmers.

In 2022, I was honored with the National Award for Outstanding Rural Women from the Department of Agriculture for my contributions to sustainable agriculture, Fairtrade advocacy, and rural women’s empowerment. It was a moment of immense pride, not just for me, but for the entire PIBFA community. We received farm equipment, infrastructure support, and financial assistance to expand our programs.

I have also been recipient of the Bagong Bayani Award from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, been recognized in micro-enterprise leadership at national competitions and also been allotted a seat in the Barangay Council of Pandanon, proving that farmers can be leaders beyond the fields. I have also been invited to attend the World Organic Conference held in Taiwan in December 2024

But the recognition is not what drives me. My greatest reward comes from seeing the impact of my work on the lives of farmers and the community.

I am an organic farming practitioner to the core!

My life’s work is to lead by example and ensure that every farmer under PIBFA has access to better opportunities and prove that women in agriculture can rise to leadership, gain financial independence, and build a thriving community.

I continue to mentor new farmers in organic production and market access, strengthen cooperatives, and advocate for policies that support smallholder farmers and rural women.

Agriculture has always been more than planting crops for me—it’s about empowering people and transforming communities. My journey from selling bananas as a child to leading a nationally recognized farmers’ association is proof that with determination, leadership, and the support of movements like Fairtrade, we can rise above our circumstances. We can build a brighter future not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.