Biliran

Agriculture forms the backbone of Biliran’s economy, with a significant portion of its population employed in farming, hunting, and forestry. Palay (unhusked rice) is a major temporary crop, and coconut is the dominant permanent crop in the region, including Biliran. While specific recent data solely for Biliran’s overall agricultural production is limited, the province had about 12.4 thousand farms covering 19.5 thousand hectares as of 2002. The Department of Agriculture’s SAAD program is actively supporting farmers, as seen in a recent initiative where farmer associations from Biliran, along with those from Leyte, expanded their market reach by participating in the Kadiwa ng Pangulo trade fair in January 2025, selling various vegetables and earning income. This indicates ongoing efforts to improve market access and support smallholder farmers.

The fisheries sector in Biliran shows a mixed performance, with varying trends across its sub-sectors. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the total fishery production in Biliran experienced a slight decrease of 1.45% compared to the same period in 2019. While the municipal fishery sector accounted for the largest share (nearly 70%), it saw a decline of 7.64%. Aquaculture also contributed minimally and experienced a significant drop of 42.38%. However, commercial fishery production saw a notable increase of 19.57%, attributed to favorable weather conditions enabling more fishing trips. More recent data from the first quarter of 2022 indicated a slight overall decrease in fishery production (0.03%), with municipal and aquaculture sectors contributing to the decline, while commercial fisheries posted an increase. Biliran generally has the lowest volume of fish production among provinces in Eastern Visayas.

The DA (Department of Agriculture) SAAD (Special Area for Agricultural Development) program is a vital initiative in Biliran, focusing on empowering marginalized farmers and fisherfolk. SAAD projects aim to alleviate poverty by increasing food production and productivity. In May 2025, DA-SAAD equipped 40 farmers on Maripipi Island with enhanced communication, teamwork, and leadership skills, vital for managing their collective projects, which include corn, vegetable, and poultry production. In January 2025, farmer associations from Biliran, like the Tucdao-Anas Farmers Irrigators Association Inc. (TAFIA) and Cabucgayan Farmers Association (CAFA), successfully expanded their market reach by participating in the Kadiwa ng Pangulo trade fair, selling their produce and directly benefiting from increased income without middlemen. These efforts underscore SAAD’s role in providing technical support, training, and market access.