Iloilo - The food basket of Philippines
" My Grandfather used to say once in your life you need a doctor , a lawyer and a policeman and a preacher , but everyday , 3 times a day you need a farmer." Brenda Schoepp
With three square meals a day, plus a few snacks, it is truly logical we owe our survival through the farmers each time we sit down to eat. The rural agricultural areas of Iloilo are constantly producing vegetables , fruits , spices , poultry , livestocks and fishes all throughout the year . Everyday , it is delivered to the Super Market and Fishing Port . These goods are then re-transported to every malls , and various retail markets
in different areas of Iloilo City .
Iloilo is self-sufficient survivor in unpredictable times.
During the disruption of food supply during disasters (flooding , typhoon ) . Iloilo may simply survive . To some, this type of talk is “gloom and doom”, but I do not believe that is the case at all. United nation (UN) Panel of Scientist warned us it is a real threat. Understanding what maybe happening around and getting prepared is important and you avoid deep regret later . When things get desperate such as starvation , desperate people do desperate things , the best example is the Typhoon Yolanda on November 8 , 2013 . Lawlessness will set in as people strive to survive by taking food . But it is just a very small preview of what is going to happen in much of the world during the years ahead. Extreme heat resulted to million of people in India and Africa to have little or no access to water . Without water , every conceivable food production will dramatically decrease .
If the oil supply runs out in the world . International trade will stop shipping food supply . Major cities such as Manila , Cebu , Davao , and Bacolod City who depended their foods like rice , marine food , poultry , pork , fruits , through shipping will eventually run out of supply in matter of days. Most areas of Negros Occidental are into mono-crop agriculture. Davao fruits exportation will necessary suspended.
Very Low Food Production does not cope with increasing Population.
Since 2005, for instance, the global price of rice has climbed five-fold. Joachim von Braun, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, D.C., warned that agricultural productivity growth is only one to two percent a year. This is too low to meet population growth and increased demand. Perpetual food crisis has become a grim reality
Rice-Deprived Cebu, Leyte , Bacolod and Davao
Manila and Cebu land is not arable. Cebu topography are mountainous that is very inhospitable to food production. Cebu and Negros Occidental produces rice and sugar inadequately that it needs importation for them to acquire.
Iloilo shipped rice to Region 8 on November 2012 to help the rice deficient region, particularly Baybay and Maasin City, capital of Southern Leyte in 2013 .NFA Iloilo Asst. Manager Jose Pacificador said 8,900 bags of rice have been shipped to Bacolod City in March 2013 . 10,000 sack of rice were shipped to Bacolod in AUgust 2018. and another in October 2018.
Around 500 hectares were planted with organic rice from June to July and will be harvested September to October of 2015. Black rice will be exported to Singapore , Hongkong and Middle East. Black rice is high in nutritional value and is a source of iron, vitamin E and antioxidants.
Fortunately , We do not depend on shipping these food to us. The real threat is for countries who let go of Agricultural Economy such as Venezuela , it is hard to believe but the Inflation skyrocketed to 1,000,000 % . In apocalyptic time , your money will have no value since no food in groceries and markets to buy. You cannot eat gold , silver , cellphone or their cars and we can deduce who will be miserable .
The fertile soil , 150 rivers systems , massive damn , and a marine is teeming with food perfectly produce abundance of resources and foodstuff for its population . Through the National Food Authority , who overseer the sufficiency of supply , Iloilo production has been quite abundant for years . Supply such as vegetables , fruits , table sugar , poultry , hogs , rice and marine food . Iloilo is known as " Food basket in the Philippines " as every staple food or its ingredients you can find in Iloilo.
Iloilo Rice Production - Top 3 in whole Philippines
Due to favorable geographic, climatic and demographic factors, Iloilo is historically the chief producer of rice.
Regional and Provincial Agriculture
Office , National Food Authority declares that Iloilo is cited to have abudant
of production of rice each year making Iloilo as 2nd top producer of rice in
whole country . Chief towns are Pototan , Dumangas , Oton , Santa Barbara , Tigbaun , Pavia , Leganes , San Dionesio , Sara ,and Batad , Iloilo . There are about 194.4 thousand hectares devoted to palay in 1995 which yielded a harvest of 553.5 thousand metric tons. Korean government issued 11 Billion to Iloilo , biggest in Philippine history to increase yield of rice . They money will be use for Rehabilitation of the Jalaur River Irrigation System by constructing damn and hydroelectric power. Almost 34,000 hectares of rice in Iloilo will be irrigated ( National Irrigation Authority) .
It is common that Iloilo ship tons of rice to food-deprived province such as Cebu , Tacloban and Negros
( read link here)
Iloilo is top 3 in rice production in 2011 – 959,270 metric tons ( Only in Western Visayas)
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Regional and Provincial Agriculture
Office , National Food Authority declares that Iloilo is cited to have abudant
of production of rice each year making Iloilo as 2nd top producer of rice in
whole country . Chief towns are Pototan , Dumangas , Oton , Santa Barbara , Tigbaun , Pavia , Leganes , San Dionesio , Sara ,and Batad , Iloilo . There are about 194.4 thousand hectares devoted to palay in 1995 which yielded a harvest of 553.5 thousand metric tons. Korean government issued 11 Billion to Iloilo , biggest in Philippine history to increase yield of rice . They money will be use for Rehabilitation of the Jalaur River Irrigation System by constructing damn and hydroelectric power. Almost 34,000 hectares of rice in Iloilo will be irrigated ( National Irrigation Authority) .
It is common that Iloilo ship tons of rice to food-deprived province such as Cebu , Tacloban and Negros
( read link here)
Iloilo is top 3 in rice production in 2011 – 959,270 metric tons ( Only in Western Visayas)
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Iloilo Corn Production - Top 10 in Philippines
Corn harvesting in Iloilo covered 5,200 hectares. About 2,000 hectares were white corn farm areas and 3,200 hectares were yellow corn farm areas. Iloilo contributes to 66.6 of corn production in Western Visayas. Northern Iloilo towns
produced corn extensively . Sweet Corn are cultivated in Pavia and San Miguel.The Engineering Section of the Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Office
estimates more than 1,500 hectares of slopes having been converted to corn farming. With this reason , Vitarich Industry is put up in Pavia. It's state of
the art equipment processed corns into various types of feeds from animal (poultry, swine and pet food) to aquaculture products (milkfish, tilapia and shrimps) .
Iloilo is top 10 producer in 2011 – 164,839 metric tons ( only in Western Visayas)
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
produced corn extensively . Sweet Corn are cultivated in Pavia and San Miguel.The Engineering Section of the Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Office
estimates more than 1,500 hectares of slopes having been converted to corn farming. With this reason , Vitarich Industry is put up in Pavia. It's state of
the art equipment processed corns into various types of feeds from animal (poultry, swine and pet food) to aquaculture products (milkfish, tilapia and shrimps) .
Iloilo is top 10 producer in 2011 – 164,839 metric tons ( only in Western Visayas)
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Iloilo Poultry Production - Top 3 in Philippines
As Iloilo is Home of Milling feeds to whole of Visayas due to corn production . Poultry farming is alive Chickens and poultry Farms are raised in Orchard Valley , Tigum Pavia produces organic egg form free-range grass-fed chicken. The Egger Farm at San Jose, San Miguel, Iloilo, is a poultry farm which serves a number of municipalities in the province of Iloilo. it supply egg in Iloilo
Supermart .These organic eggs are then supplied to all Iloilo Supermart outlets .Poultry farms are in Pototan , Barotac Viejo , Cabatuan , Barotac Nuevo Santa Barbara and Garin Farms in San Joaquin , Iloilo. These chickens are transported in Iloilo Poultry Rich and Valuerich Plant in Tanza , Iloilo City .Some Dressing plants are Corden Agro in Santa Barbara and Mirandel Poultry Dressing Plant in Tungay and Jibao-an Santa Barbara accordingl and Peace and Properity in Jibao-an Pavia. These chickens are distributed in Central Market , retail stores for home consumption , Jolibee , McDonalds , Mang Inasal , Jo's Inato , Pecho-pack , Barrio Inasal , Andoks , Kenny Rogers , KFC and Green Witch.
Iloilo is top 6 in Production of Chicken : Iloilo – 7,118,359 ( only in Western Visayas)
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Supermart .These organic eggs are then supplied to all Iloilo Supermart outlets .Poultry farms are in Pototan , Barotac Viejo , Cabatuan , Barotac Nuevo Santa Barbara and Garin Farms in San Joaquin , Iloilo. These chickens are transported in Iloilo Poultry Rich and Valuerich Plant in Tanza , Iloilo City .Some Dressing plants are Corden Agro in Santa Barbara and Mirandel Poultry Dressing Plant in Tungay and Jibao-an Santa Barbara accordingl and Peace and Properity in Jibao-an Pavia. These chickens are distributed in Central Market , retail stores for home consumption , Jolibee , McDonalds , Mang Inasal , Jo's Inato , Pecho-pack , Barrio Inasal , Andoks , Kenny Rogers , KFC and Green Witch.
Iloilo is top 6 in Production of Chicken : Iloilo – 7,118,359 ( only in Western Visayas)
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Iloilo Mango Production - Top 7 in Philippines
Miag-ao , Leon , Cabatuan , Janiuay , Ajuy , Lemery , Leon produced sweeter mangoes .
Iloilo is top 7 mangoe production in 2011 – 23,125.80 metric tons( only
in Western Visayas)According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Iloilo is top 7 mangoe production in 2011 – 23,125.80 metric tons( only
in Western Visayas)According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Pineapple Production - Top 8 in Philippines
Pineapple , a potent anti-oxidant , Passi City produced pineapple which is transported in Iloilo City.
Iloilo is top 8 in pineapple production in 2011 – 11,323.00 metric tons
( only in Western Visayas)
Iloilo is top 8 in pineapple production in 2011 – 11,323.00 metric tons
( only in Western Visayas)
Sugarcane - Top 5 in Philippines
Iloilo have ample supply of sugar . The 17,000 hectares in Iloilo is planted to sugar cane. Passi City , Barotac Nuevo , Anilao , Dingle , Lambunao and Balasan have vast plantations of sugarcare that are transported into 3 Azucarera in Passi City by trucks . They are Passi Sugar Central 1 2 and CASA.
Azucarera processed these sugarcanes through extracting the syrup , carbonatation or a phosphatation process , then
boiling and then cooled and seeded with sugar crystals causing the sugar to crystallize out. They are packaged then destributed to major malls , and retail stores and made its way into your tables . Sugar is necessary to make pastries , cakes , cola drinks and bread.
Iloilo is top 5 producer of Sugarcane 2011 – 1,258,357.54 metric tons
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Azucarera processed these sugarcanes through extracting the syrup , carbonatation or a phosphatation process , then
boiling and then cooled and seeded with sugar crystals causing the sugar to crystallize out. They are packaged then destributed to major malls , and retail stores and made its way into your tables . Sugar is necessary to make pastries , cakes , cola drinks and bread.
Iloilo is top 5 producer of Sugarcane 2011 – 1,258,357.54 metric tons
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Watermelon - Top 1 in Philippines
Oton , Barotac Viejo , Sara , Cabatuan, Pavia , Santa Barbara , Zaraga , Leganes , Banate grows watermelon.
about 32 hectares were harvested with an estimated production of 570 mt.(1) hectare squash was harvested in San Enrique with total
production of 1.20 mt.
about 32 hectares were harvested with an estimated production of 570 mt.(1) hectare squash was harvested in San Enrique with total
production of 1.20 mt.
Salt Production
Salt is produced in Leganes , Arevalo , Baldoza , Oton , Tigbaun and Guimbal . Ilongo traditional saltmaking in Guibongan , Miag-ao is called " budbud" . The salt is made on bamboo nodes. Several bamboo nodes are split lengthwise and set horizontally on posts about a meter from the ground. Coastal sand is placed inside these halves to serve as the filter. Then, sea water is poured into these bamboo splits and dried under the sun. Salt-makers filter the crystal salts several times and rinse it with seawater. Clearer, whiter and more crystalline salt. Not as salty as the other varieties. It takes 1 to 2 days to produce 1 sack of salt. One sack worth P 1500. It's most important component of everyday dishes for flavor enhancement.
Fruits
Grapes are grown in 3 hectare Denila Orchard in Lanag , Santa Barbara.
Hogs
Hogs are raised in Bambi Hog Farm in Banate , Nueva Swine Valley Inc. in Barotac Viejo , NC Farm in Oton , Montinola FARM in Tigbaun , Iloilo , LG FARM in Pavia, Iloilo , Juantong FARM in San Miguel , Iloilo, Jardiolin Farm and Jalandoni Farm located in Zaraga , Iloilo, Ilongo Chickboy Corpotation in Leon , Iloilo , Iloilo farmers Prodocers Cooperative in Sara , Iloilo. Hermont Hog Farm in Dingle , Iloilo, Eternity Farm in Barotac Nuevo. ESA farm in Alegre, oton.
Iloilo is top 4 in hog production in 2011 – 444,624
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Iloilo " Sea Food Capital of Philippines "
Seafood Factory
Iloilo has Fishing Port with modern 300 tons of Cold Storage and Refrigeration facilities located in Tanza , Iloilo City. The towns of Estancia, San Dionisio , Banate and Conception , Iloilo have Fish Factories and export in many South East Asian Countries . Recently , a Crabmeat Canning Factory was opened in Conception , Iloilo . ( photo below)
Iloilo as " Alaska of Philippines "
The American period witnessed the northeastern section of Iloilo – Carles, Balasan, Estancia, San Dionisio, and Concepcion – as a fishing center of the region. The development of commercial fishing in Northern Iloilo started during the closing decade of the 19th century where considerable production of fish during the 1920s and the 1930s. The area was dubbed as the "Alaska of the Philippines" due to the huge schools of sardines and mackerels available on its shores. Probably, because most of fish landings were done in the port of Estancia. Moreover , Iloilo fishing ground is prolific of marine food such as crabs , grouper , sea bass , tuna , blue marlin , prawn , and shrimps . David Szanton, and American researcher-writer, who wrote Estancia in Transition (1971) had attributed the title alone to Estancia.
Oyster Farms
Oyster Farming is present in Zaraga , Banate Bay Iloilo , Estancia and Carles , Iloilo.
Iloilo is top 10 in fish production in 2011 – 135,356.27 metric tons
( only in Western Visayas)According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Milkfish Farms
187 hectares of bangus fishponds were harvested in Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas and Anilao with an estimated production of 72,330 kg valued at P5, 885,460.00.
Tilapia, estimated production of five (5) mt. from an area of 0.50 hectare brackishwater fishpond was noted. For freshwater fishpond, 5,150 kg of freshwater tilapia were harvested in 0.5.
On March 6 , 2015 , 7000 Tilapia and Bangus Fingerlings dispersed at Iloilo River.
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Orchard valley farm
Extensive Vegetables Farms in Iloilo
Lettuce and Chilly are grown in Zarraga
Cabbage , tomatoes , Carrots are grown in Leon . Beans , ampalaya , eggplant , onion are grown in San Joaquin , Santa Barbara and Leon. Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and strawberries are being cultivated and produced by Alimodian’s “Seven Cities” Initial harvesting of 15.50 hectares of eggplant was reported in Miag-ao with production of 100 mt. About 20 hectares
of peanut were harvested in San Joaquin and Tubungan with total production of
12,550 kilograms.
Cabbage , tomatoes , Carrots are grown in Leon . Beans , ampalaya , eggplant , onion are grown in San Joaquin , Santa Barbara and Leon. Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and strawberries are being cultivated and produced by Alimodian’s “Seven Cities” Initial harvesting of 15.50 hectares of eggplant was reported in Miag-ao with production of 100 mt. About 20 hectares
of peanut were harvested in San Joaquin and Tubungan with total production of
12,550 kilograms.
Denila Farm
JLP Farm
JLP Farm is 2 hectare orchard in Guinobatan , New Lucena , Iloilo that grows papaya , bananas, pineapples, and sweet and sticky concoctions of cassava, sweet potato and malagkit
Banana is an important part of the diet . Banana Plantation are grown in Lambunao and Passi City. Garin Farm in San Joaquin produced senorita and
cavindish banana.
Banana is an important part of the diet . Banana Plantation are grown in Lambunao and Passi City. Garin Farm in San Joaquin produced senorita and
cavindish banana.