Western Visayas’ agriculture sector showed remarkable resilience in 2024, overcoming setbacks such as the ongoing threat of African swine fever (ASF), El Niño, the eruption of Mount Kanlaon.
Despite these challenges, the region remained one of the top five performing agricultural areas in the country, according to Department of Agriculture (DA) officials.
DA Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia said that despite the adverse weather, the region’s overall production remained positive.
Agricultural losses due to El Niño reached PHP1.7 billion, with the heaviest damage affecting farmers and fisherfolk, especially in Iloilo and Antique, which declared states of calamity.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that palay production in Western Visayas reached an estimated 341,844 metric tons (MT) in the third quarter of 2024.
Negros Occidental led the production with 126,545 MT, followed by Iloilo with 98,289 MT. The region also produced 77,272 MT of corn, with Iloilo contributing the largest share.
In the livestock sector, Western Visayas produced 24,743 MT of hogs, with Negros Occidental accounting for half of the region’s livestock inventory.
Arpia said they are mitigating the damage and sustain agricultural growth, by implementing strategic interventions, such as increasing hybrid rice production and exploring new areas for corn cultivation.
The DA continued to collaborate with local government units to improve farming practices and provide essential support as farmers expressed interest in adopting new technologies, he said.
Proactive measures
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Iloilo proactively addressed challenges by establishing agricultural management units to streamline operations and enhance farm efficiency.
In Antique, DA said that it swiftly deployed rice seeds through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, enabling farmers to replant quickly and minimize losses.
The province is on track to meet or surpass its 2023 rice production figures, DA added.
Meanwhile, the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Iloilo will provide significant benefits to the region’s agricultural sector. This project will expand irrigation to an additional 9,500 hectares and increase water supply to five existing national irrigation systems.
Arpia emphasized that the project would boost rice production and improve the livelihoods of 7,000 farmers across the province.
He also expressed confidence that despite the obstacles, Western Visayas’ agriculture sector is making significant progress in recovery and long-term growth.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a personal blog on Medium.