| AGRI-TOURISM MASTER PLAN (Year 2006-2020)  |
5.1 Agriculture
Production
Biliran, being an agricultural province, has agriculture as the lifeblood of its economy as substantiated by the employment statistics in which about 61% of the 1995 labor force is engaged in agriculture, poultry, fishery and forestry sub-sectors.
The Provincial Government of Biliran is cognizant that agriculture can be an engine of growth if more resources are infused to make the sector more productive. Its continued development in a participatory and sustainable manner remains to be a major thrust.
Food production will be a major concern of the province. The food security situation of the province in the past years reveals a surplus in palay, fish and beef but deficit in corn, root crops, fruits, vegetables, pork, eggs and chicken as presented in Table 5.1.
Table 5.1 Food Security Situation, 2004
| Commodity | Population | Per Capita Reqt (Kg) |
Food Reqt. | Production | Surplus/Deficit |
| (MT) | (MT) | (MT) | |||
| Rice | 150,172 | 113.87 | 17,100.08 | 24,986.55 | 7,886.47 |
| Corn | 150,172 | 16.77 | 2,512.38 | 288.32 | -2,230.06 |
| Root Crops | 150,172 | 21.05 | 3,161.12 | 2,971.50 | -189.62 |
| Fruits | 150,172 | 28 | 4,208.82 | 856.5 | -3,352.32 |
| Vegetables | 150,172 | 39 | 5,856.71 | 366.88 | 5,489.83) |
| Fish | 150,172 | 30.66 | 4,604.27 | 7,222.95 | 2,618.68 |
| Carabeef | 150,172 | 1.6 | 240.2 | 27.75 | -212.4 |
| Beef | 150,172 | 0.88 | 132.1 | 151.2 | 19.1 |
| Pork | 150,172 | 6.29 | 944.5 | 123.4 | -821.1 |
| Egg | 150,172 | 2.65 | 397.9 | 3.26 | -397.9 |
| Chicken | 150,172 | 4.04 | 606.6 | 11.9 | -594.7 |
| Coconut | 150,172 | - | - | 14,180 | - |
Rice production in 2004 (Table 5.2) shows the average production of palay per hectare.
Table 5.2 Rice Production, 2004
| Province | Irrigated Area | Total Production | Yield |
| (ha.) | (MT) | (MT/ha.) | |
| Biliran | 6,535 | 24,986.55 | 3.82 |
Although the province has a surplus production in rice, fish, and beef still the food security plan of Biliran necessitates the implementation of programs and projects that maximize farm productivity to sustain food requirements of the growing population and continuously attain self sufficiency level by the year 2007 and beyond.
Table 5.3 presents the projected yearly food requirements (MT) of the Province for the next three years (2006-2008).
Table 5.3 Projected Yearly Food Requirements (MT)
(2006 - 2008)
| . | Y e a r | ||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Population Commodity | 153,175 | 156,238 | 159,362.76 |
| Palay | 17,442.08 | 17,790.92 | 18,146.74 |
| Corn | 1,036.99 | 1,057.73 | 1,079.88 |
| Root Crop | 3,224.34 | 3,288.83 | 3,354.61 |
| Fruits | 4,292.99 | 4,378.85 | 4,466.43 |
| Vegetables | 5,973.84 | 6,093.32 | 6,215.19 |
| Fish | 4,696.36 | 4,790.29 | 4,886.10 |
| Carabeef | 245 | 249.9 | 254.89 |
| Beef | 134.74 | 137.43 | 140.18 |
| Pork | 963.39 | 982.66 | 1,002.31 |
| Chicken | 618.73 | 631.1 | 643.72 |
| Egg | 405.86 | 413.98 | 422.25 |
| Coconut | 17,490.00 | 183,640.00 | 19,282.00 |
(Note: The above estimates are computed at 2% population growth rate with corresponding food requirements.)
Toward coping with this increasing demand, the province through its Agricultural Services Office together with or through LGUs, NGOs, POs and academic institutions recommend a number of advanced technological packages for productivity in crops, fishery, livestock, and in other commodities. Some farmers, however, especially those in remote areas, refuse to adopt the technology due to poor access to credit for their production capital r requirements.
Table 5.4 shows the list of irrigation systems established in selected locations within the province. The total length of these irrigation canals established by or through LGUs/ NIA/ DA/ DAR/ARC/NGO is 38.16 km, servicing a total area of 2,718.5 hectares. Most of these canals, however, already need repair and rehabilitation. To complement these irrigation facilities are the pre- and post-harvest equipment acquired by the province which included 20 units Shallow Tube Well, 20 units Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement and 8 Floating Tillers, all these amounted to PhP 335,767.
Table 5.4 Irrigation Systems Established
Biliran Province (as of 2005)
| Municipality | Location | Length of Canal | Service Area (ha.) | Implementing Agency | Type of Project | Status of Project |
| Biliran | Pinangomhan | 1.8 km | 55 | DAR/ARC | CIS/DD | Under repair |
| Bato | 1.5 km | 56 | NIA/LGU | CIS/DD | do - | |
| Hugpa | 1.0 km | 105 | DA/PLGU | CIS/DD | For rehab | |
| Sitio Kidya | 1.0 km | 40 | DA/LGU | CIS/DD | - do - | |
| Cabucgayan | Balaquid | 1.6 km | 70 | NIA/LGU | CIS/DD | Functional |
| Magbangon | 1.0 km | 40 | LGU/NGO | CIS/DD | - do - | |
| Kapayas | 1.2 km | 30 | DAR/ARC | CIS/DD | - do - | |
| Caibiran | Cabibihan | 200 m | 35 | DA/NGO | CIS/DD | For rehab |
| Union | 1.8 km | 80 | NIA/LGU | CIS/DD | - do - | |
| Kaulangohan | 1.0 km | 60 | MPWH/LGU | CIS/DD | Functional/for rehab | |
| Victory | 200 m | 200 | LGU/NGO | CIS/DD | do | |
| Guindaponan | 400 m | 150 | - do - | CIS/DD | do | |
| Culaba | Bacolod | 1.4 km | 55 | NIA/LGU | CIS/DD | Functional/for rehab |
| Viginia | 1.0 km | 40 | LGU/NGO | CIS/DD | - do - | |
| Kawayan | Tucdao | 600m | 100 | DA/LGU/NGO | CIS/DD | For repair |
| Mapuyo | 150 | 105 | MPWH/LGU | CIS/DD | unctional/for rehab | |
| Tubig-Guinoo | 845m | 45 | NIA/LGU | CIS/DD | - do -_ | |
| Almeria | Iyusan | 1.0km` | 35 | DA/LGU/NGO | CIS/DD | Func’l./ for rehab - |
| Ilijan | 900 m | 60 | LGU/DA/NGO | CIS/DD | - do - | |
| Caucab | 1.2 km | 30 | NGO/Farmers | Prop. | For rehab | |
| Naval | Kawayanon &Cogon | 2.0km | 128 | DAR/ARC` | CIS/DD | Functional |
| Caraycaray | 1.4 km | 72 | DAR/ARC | CIS/DD | Functional | |
| Talustusan | 1.2 km | 50 | DAR/ARC | CIS/DD | Under repair | |
| Calumpang | 600 m | 145.5 | NIA/LGU | CIS/DD | Functional | |
| Agpangi | 113 m | 113.5 | DA/LGU | CIS/DD | Functional | |
| Capinahan | 0.25 km | 267.25 | NIA/LGU | CIS/DD | Functional | |
| Catmon | 500 m | 69 | A/LGU | CIS/DD | Functional | |
| Hagikhikan | 11 km | 113 | NIA?LGU/NGO | CIS/DD | Needs repair | |
| PS Eamiguel | 550 m | 151 | DA/LGU/NGO | CIS/DD | Needs repair | |
| Villaconsuelo | 1.0 km | 218.25 | DA/LGU | CIS/DD | Functional |
As of 2004, the province through the Agrarian Reform Office has distributed a total of 11,613 hectares of both private and public agricultural lands to a number of landless Biliranons. This represents 80% of the total CARP scope. Distribution of this lands alone, however, does not assure of increased productivity. Capabilities of the Agrarian Reform beneficiaries (ARBs) should also be given priority attention to ensure productivity of the distributed lands.
Marketing
Markets for our crops, fishery products, poultry, livestock, and coconuts that command better prices are located mostly in urban centers. For these products to reach the markets with speed, adequate farm-to-market roads and transportation facilities are very vital. Lack of these support infrastructures as well as lack of storage facilities near production areas/centers lessens the ability of farmers to earn better income from their products. These are conditions that usually force our farmers to sell their products as soon as they harvest them, without waiting for a more appropriate time for these products to command better prices or without adding value to them through processing.
A multi-layered market is also prevalent in the province. The price of farmers' produce is raised many times before it reaches the customer and end users due to inefficiencies or added costs in the distribution channels. This marketing system does not benefit our people in the province.
5.2 Environment and Tourism
The province of Biliran is gifted with life-giving natural wealth - fertile land, bountiful seas, and lush forests. Unfortunately the demands of an increasing population have combined with shortsighted and self over-exploitation that have undermined the capacity of our natural resources to sustain a decent quality of life for the Biliranons.
The province's remaining forest cover is only 11,040.99 hectares or 49.40% of the total forest area, which is 22,350 hectares. Deforestation has outpaced reforestation so much that most of the province's forests had experienced, and continues to experience, widespread soil erosion. This in turn, has caused heavy siltation and sedimentation of waterways, flooding, and landslides. Ecological balance had been disturbed.
At present, there is one proclaimed watershed forest reserve in the province - the Anas Watershed. The province has implemented logging moratorium in our dipterocarp forests since 1989. Domestic trading in forestry is focused on commercial forests or the Private Land Timber Permit.
More than half of the barangays are located along the coastlines. The waters surrounding the island province are sources of food, energy and raw materials as well as lifelines of transportation and communication including recreation. Effective management of the surrounding waters and control over activities that take place are crucial to the provinces environmental integrity, food security, safety, and well being of its constituents.
The number of tourist arrivals in the province lags behind other tourist destinations in the Visayas. This is perhaps due to the lackluster tourism promotion about Biliran and the absence or lack of tourist facilities near the tourist spots. It is therefore necessary that these beautiful natural sites be enhanced through park development or the construction of basic amenities in the their immediate vicinities.
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