Southern Leyte is basically an agricultural province complemented by the growth in the services sector. The major sources of income in the province are farming and fishing. The major crops grown are coconut, rice, banana, rice, root crops, fruits, and vegetables. Livestock and poultry are mostly raised in the backyard, and are used for home consumption and special occasions. Carabaos are mostly used in farming and hauling of agricultural products from the farm to the market.

Based on the 2018 data of PSA, Coconut is the major crop of the province with a volume of production of 127,750 metric tons for a harvested area of 32,150 ha giving an average yield of 3.97 MT per hectare. Following coconut as a major crop are rice (rainfed and irrigated palay), white corn and banana.

For the poultry sector, the province’s focus is on the production of native/improved chicken. On the other hand, for the livestock sector, the province’s focus is on swine production. The PSA recorded that the province has produced 1,800 heads of chicken and 6,111 heads of swine for the year 2019.

Fishing is one of the major means of livelihood in Southern Leyte. The province has 19 coastal municipalities and 236 costal barangays. Its coastal population was recorded at 188, 434. Length of coastline in kilometers reached up to 62, 295.71.  Its major fishing ground is Bohol Sea.

The province has eleven (11) licensed commercial fishing boats with seven (7) registered fishing boat operators. Bohol Sea is the major fishing ground of the commercial fishers. Gears used are Ring Net, Purse Seine and Carrier with an annual production of 42 metric tons.

For municipal fisheries, there are 24,262 registered municipal fisherfolks – 18,164 are male and 6,098 are female. Registered motorized boats were recorded at 4,851 and non-motorized at 3,514.

In the 4^th quarter of 2019, the biggest contributor in terms of volume of production is municipal fishing  at 1,340 metric tons, followed by commercial at 91, and last is aquaculture at 27.

Major species are bali sardinella, bullet tuna, and kawa kawa.

The different aquaculture activities are: Bangus and Tilapia Culture in Brackishwater and Freshwater Fishpond, Marine Fish Cage, Freshwater Fish Cage, Marine Fishpen; and Kappaphycus alvarezii species for Seaweed farming.

Sources: BFAR 8 NSAP, PSA 2019, Municipal Profile 2019

The province’s annual per capita poverty threshold level was estimated at Php 23,318 in 2015 which means that a family of five members in the province should have a monthly income of P9,716 to meet its food and non-food requirements. This figure is higher than the regional (P21,304) figure. Southern Leyte registered a poverty incidence among families of 30.2 % or 27,083 poor households. However, the province registered the highest decrease in poverty incidence among families from 2015 to the first semester of 2018 (30.2% to 22.8.)

In terms of the poverty situation in Southern Leyte, the municipality of Malitbog has the highest poverty incidence at 46.2% while the City of Maasin has the lowest at 33%.