Q&A: For Fresno Farmworkers, No Water Means No Jobs

Miguel Bibanco Contributor

Ed. Note: California is now in the fourth year of a record-breaking drought. For the thousands of farmworkers in the state the continued dry conditions mean shrinking harvests and fewer jobs. The kNOw youth reporter Miguel Bibanco’s mother, Enedina Bibanco, has worked in the fields since first coming to Fresno from Tijuana, Mexico nearly 16 years ago. She says the drought is a “big concern” for her and other farm workers in the area.

What first brought you to Fresno?

I came from Tijuana because I heard from my friends and family that there were more opportunities here. I first settled in Mendota but later moved to Fresno because there were more jobs here. When I arrived, there were very good jobs … there were more chances to find work in the fields.

Has the drought made it harder to find work?

Yes. I have a lot of friends who are not working now. The jobs are disappearing. Because of the drought, I have to go further to find work. Around here there is less work available. I have to go up to Reedley, Selma, Orange Cove, Visalia — that’s how far I have to go to find a job.

Are you always certain there will be work wherever you go?

Most of the time I go that far because people say [farms there] are taking workers. [But] sometimes when I go they are actually not taking workers.

What are some other signs of the drought you are seeing?

When I worked in the cherry fields there was less fruit [than previous years] … the fruit harvest in general is very low this season.

What is you biggest concern with the drought?

As a mother I’m worried that I won’t have a job, and that I wont be able to help my family. If there is no water, there are no jobs … the drought is taking everything

How does that affect you?

Before we worked by contract. When you work under contract you have to finish a pallet [and] you earn about $90. You can finish about midday. These days we are mostly paid by the hour … $9 per hour. Working by the hour is more tiring and because there is less fruit we end up working shorter hours, which means there is usually less money by the end of the month. That affects my ability to pay for things like rent and groceries. But you have to move forward as they say.