The second quarter in 2024 Iloilo was ranked as the most prolific producer of the major fruits and vegetables within Western Visayas, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Iloilo was a top performer in the manufacturing of mango as well as pineapple and securing the top spot in the production of calamansi and bananas of the four main fruits. Iloilo produced 44.7 percent of the area’s mango production which amounted to 56,972 metric tonnes (MT) which was more than Guimaras as well as Negros Occidental. It also led the way in the production of pineapples, by capturing the 67.3 percentage of 7,244 MT, also surpassing Negros Occidental.

In the case of calamansi and kalamansi, Iloilo contributed 34.6% and 33.4 percent, respectively, in the total regional production of 61.305 MT for bananas and 654 MT of the calamansi. For industrial and non-food crops, Iloilo’s contributions were less impressive. Iloilo was able to produce 4.9 percent of the region’s sugarcane with a total of 640,320 tonnes, and was second in the rankings after Negros Occidental. When it comes to coconut production Iloilo produced 15.4 percent of the regional total of 146,163 tonnes. Iloilo’s contribution to the cacao, tobacco, abaca and the production of coffee was lower than 3percent of the production total.

Source: Daily Guardian