Municipality of Pandan, Antique, Philippines

Crop Production

The area devoted to agricultural crop production in the municipality of Pandan totaled to 6,285.53, which is equivalent to 42.97 % of the total land area of the municipality. The largest area measuring 3,334.35 hectares equivalent to 53.05 % of the total agricultural land area is primarily occupied by coconuts though this commodity is considered less important compared to rice.

Likewise, rice crop is considered the most important commodity and comprises a total of 2,216.00 hectares, which is equivalent to 35.26% of the total agricultural land, of which 1,056 hectares, are lowland irrigated, 998 hectares are lowland rainfed and 162.00 hectares are upland.

The more than 2,000 hectares of agricultural land devoted to rice are still productive and producing more than the demand of its population. An Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) both in rice and in vegetable will make Pandan a producer of pesticide-free rice and vegetables.

Coconut is widely distributed in every barangay to the fact that Pandan is the second largest producer of copra to Caluya, an island municipality of Antique. Notwithstanding the downfall of the price of copra, the municipality did not suffer from economic crisis.

Other annual crops produced are corn with 21.22 hectares and lowland areas are devoted to perennial crops such as banana with an area reaching about 288.5 hectares and fruit trees which occupy a limited area of about 28.30 hectares.

Fiber crops like abaca is grown in almost 294.92 hectares which is equivalent to 4.70 % of the total agricultural land.

Bamboo is cultivated in 14.24 hectares while plantation crops such as coffee and cacao are least cultivated in the locality comprising only 7.5 hectares and 2.0 hectares, respectively.

Nipa which usually grows in estuaries are composed of 52.76 hectares.

Livestock and Poultry

The municipality has identified a key livestock development area with a total of 120 hectares involving 10 barangays such as Luhod-Bayang, Patria, Duyong, San Joaquin, Sta. Ana, Buang, Candari, Fragante, Nauring and Mag-aba. These barangays have wide areas for pasture which maybe utilized for large-scale livestock industry.

Initially, Barangay Buang have availed of 11 heads of cattle (10 heads cow and one (1) head bull) purposely for breeding under Barangay Livestock Breeding Loan Program and JINAFRABA ARB Cooperative have availed a total of 120 heads cattle for fattening and these were distributed in different barangays covered by the scope of operation of the said cooperative. This program is funded by Southern Luzon Central Philippines Task Force (SOLCENTAF) and Social Reform Agenda-Poverty Alleviation Fund 1 (SRA-PAF 1).

Fisheries

Pandan has 15 coastal barangays and most of the time coastal fishing happened at Cuyo East Pass which borders the western portion of the municipality. Mag-aba with a total area of 45 sq. km. has an excellent volume of fish catch of approximately 26.22 MT translating to around 1.3 M per annum. Other barangays recorded to have high volume of fish catch are Patria , Zaldivar, San Andres and Dionela.

The municipality has also six (6) barangays with fishponds and with a total aggregate area of 7.5 hectares with a total volume of fish catch of about 3.8 MT per annum. These fishponds are sometimes the source of fish in time when the season for fishing in the coastal area is not favorable particularly during typhoons.

Fish production in the municipality is sufficient, however most of the produce is brought to neighboring towns of Ibajay, Nabas and Kalibo in the province of Aklan which usually resulted to higher price of fish in the market.

Fisher folks in the municipality usually engage in various types of fishing activities. Ring net or locally known as “Lantsa” is one of the major contributors in the volume of fish catch with 80 MT per annum, while oto-shi-ami or netting are located in the barangays of Patria, Mag-aba, Duyong and San Andres with a total of 72 MT volume of fish catch. Beach seine or “sinsoro” are widely distributed and has a minimum catch of 25 MT. Other fishing gears used are gill net and hook and line.

Other fishing activities done by the fisherfolks are bangus and prawn fry gathering with a total catch estimated to 2.5M and 1M fingerlings, respectively.

There are instances where fisherfolks gather shells particularly “tagitis” and oyster clamps in fishponds and estuaries. Cultivation of algae “tambalang” are sometimes done by the fisherfolks in Mag-aba with a total annual production of about 2.0 MT.