Agriculture
Agriculture

Cultivating the land with various crops, and breeding of animals through livestock and poultry farms, are basic necessities to sustain life in a community. And these are things that remain visibly well maintained, promoted, and protected in Pinamungajan, even as other sources of living such as trading and manufacturing have gained ground in the town. In fact, Pinamungajan is home to a few of the most advanced and modern farms of their kind.

The topmost taxpayer in Pinamungajan in 2017, for example, is a modern facility involved in the business of swine breeding.

The  Excelsior Farms Inc. offers variety of products and services, namely Breeders (Gilts and Boars) for reproduction, Slaughter Hogs for meat supply in the market and Premium Liquid Genes for semen availability for artificial insemination.

Another giant in Pinamungajan’s agriculture sector is the Lamac Multi-purpose Cooperative.

The multi-awarded cooperative, which is known for its group of resorts and other tourism facilities, has an engaged in agricultural modernization with its own integrated organic farm, a dairy farm, and a cacao nursery. Some of their members are into swine and goat raising, vermiculture, biogas production, and manage a 48-hectare timberland. 

Organized in 1973 by a group of 70 farmers, the cooperative is now the benchmark of success and best practices for organizations that are into agriculture.

Another big-ticket investment in Pinamungajan’s agriculture sector is the modern poultry farm on the borders of the hinterland sitio Candiis, barangay  Sibago.

Starting its operations in 2008 originally in Balamban, the Birdsteel Farm built an expansion project on the mountain area of Pinamungajan after it was granted a P352-million loan for expansion from the Development Bank of the Philippines. The move was part of DBP’s thrust to support projects that contribute to food security, initiate innovations in the use of modern technology, and promote environmental safeguards in their operations. 

Birdsteel Farm has expanded its facilities with the construction of modern, auto-climate controlled poultry buildings under the latest tunnel ventilation system. This has led to significant economic, environmental and social impact in the contract-growing community not only in Region VII but in the entire country as well. 

With Birdsteel Farm, Pinamungajan is host to one of the largest contract growers in Cebu province.

Another big player in the town’s agricultural sector are the aquafarms.  

Pacific white shrimps and tilapia are the main products of the Aquatic Ranch Development Corporation in barangay Cabiangon. 

Covering a total of 32 hectares, the Aquatic Ranch is the second biggest farm of the same nature in the whole province of Cebu, next only to its sister farm in Looc, Asturias which covers 37 hectares.

In 2017, the Aquatic Ranch Development Corporation was listed as the fifth biggest taxpayer in Pinamungajan.

With that, the abovementioned companies continue to show that agriculture does not just mean sustainability and survival, it also means money as well.

TRACTOR FOR THE POOR

On the part of the Municipal Government, it has not failed to give its support to the poor players in the agricultural sector. A tractor, for example, used to be out of reach of marginal farmers who had to contend with mere bolos or carabaos to till their land, while the rich can afford the equipment.

Gone were those days, because now, farmers can use the two units of 4WD farm tractors owned by the Municipal Government of Pinamungajan. They only have to pay a rental fee to cover the maintenance of the equipment. The Municipal Agricultural Office takes charge of scheduling those who want to use the tractors. 

The Municipal Government, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, also established a Hybrid Rice Demo Farm at barangay Anopog. The project aims to enhance yield and increase production, in order to attain rice self-sufficiency.







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