Victoria | Agri-Profile

AGRI-PROFILE: VICTORIA

Agriculture / Agricultural Profile / Victoria

Victoria, Oriental Mindoro

Victoria, officially the Municipality of Victoria, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 50,492 people.
The Municipality of Victoria is known as "Fruit Basket of Oriental Mindoro" and celebrates its annual Kapakyanan Festival every October 15 as graces and thanks giving for the bountiful blessings that every Victoreños received from God. It is 36 kilometres (22 mi) from Calapan.

Crops

The economic base of the municipality is basically agricultural with almost 30% of its total land area being utilized for production of different crops and agricultural commodities. The comparative presentation of the agricultural area and production in the preceding discussions were derived from the records of the Municipal Agriculture Office. For purposes of analysis, the following assumptions will be applied:

1. High-value commercial crops composed of fruit trees and industrial crops are usually intercropped. The area is computed based on the number of productive trees planted multiplied by the standard area per crop or standard distance from another crop;
2. Area and location for vegetable and rootcrops differ per year; and
3. Total area reflected for rice is based on the area planted for a particular year.

In 2014, Victoria utilized about 11,773.58 hectares (ha) of the municipality’s agricultural area while in 2013, about 13,385 ha were made productive. For 2014, about 45.60% of the agricultural lands are devoted to rice farming, 39.08% to fruit tree or orchard farming and the remaining 3.81% is devoted to other high value commercial crops such as vegetables and root crops. Industrial crops composed of coconut, cacao, coffee, banana and pineapple constitute about 10.45% while corn is merely 1.06% of the total agricultural area.

Area devoted to Agriculture, 2014

Category	2013		2014
Category	Area (Hectares)	% Devoted to Agriculture	Area (Hectares)	% Devoted to Agriculture
Total Land Area	45,494.42	29.42	45,494.42	25.88
Total Agricultural Land	13,385.14	100.00	11,773.58	100.00
Rice	5,402.00	40.36	5,369.00	45.60
Corn	150.50	1.12	125	1.06
Vegetable	159.36	1.19	178	1.51
Root Crops	167.25	1.25	270.25	2.30
Industrial Crops	1,372.00	10.25	1,230.54	10.45
Fruit Trees	6,134.03	45.83	4,600.79	39.08
Source: Municipal Agriculture Office, 2014

There are several market outlets of rice, fruits and industrial crops in other municipalities in regions MIMAROPA and CALABARZON, as well as in Metro Socio-Economic and Physical Profile Municipality of Victoria Page | 112 Manila and other provinces. Value of each commodity varies on supply and demand particularly on citrus and rambutan.

In terms of the volume of production, rice accounted for 49.25% of the total agricultural production of the municipality. Fruit trees was second to rice production with 43,165 metric tons (MT) or 46.06% followed by industrial crops with 2.46% or 2,306.68 MT of the total municipal agricultural output. Total crop production for 2014 is 93,710.06 MT.

Existing Major Agricultural Crops by Area, Production and Market, Year 2014

Major Crops	Brgy.	Production Volume	Percentage	Market
Rice		46,153.37	49.25	Provincewide, NCR and other regions
Corn	2	269.50	0.29	Provincewide
Fruit Trees	23	43,165.73	46.06	Provincewide, Region IV, NCR and other regions
Industrial	27	2,306.68	2.46	Provincewide, Region IV, NCR and other regions
Vegetables	23	872.78	0.93	Provincewide
Root crops	20	942.00	1.01	Provincewide
TOTAL		93,710.06	100.00
Source: Municipal Agriculture Office, 2014

Table below shows the comparative agricultural crop areas and production for the year 2013 and 2014. It can be noted that while the area of vegetable and root crops increased by 74.45% and 131.37%, the volume of production decreased by 9.92% and 8.89%, respectively due to calamities, particularly strong winds and typhoon which affected the crops. The decrease in production of fruits can be attributed to extreme weather conditions and climate change that prevent the flowering trees to continue developing into fruits. The figures below show the details/distribution of volume of production of six major crops and its area.

Despite the decrease in area planted to rice by .61 hectares, production increased by 43.18 MT. Use of certified seeds and high breed seeds in 2014 led to the increase in production of rice from 40,518.66 in 2013 to 42,142.58 in 2014. A total of 1,200 bags of certified seeds and 200 bags of high breed seeds were distributed to around 700 farmers in 25 rice producing barangays in year 2014.

Comparative Agricultural Crop Areas and Production (MT), 2013 and 2014

Major Crops	Area (has.)			Volume of Production (MT)
Major Crops	2013	2014	Increase/ Decrease	2013	2014	Increase/ Decrease
Rice	5,402.00	5,369.00	(0.61)	32,234.59	46,153.37	43.18
Corn	150.50	125.00	(16.94)	135.50	269.50	98.89
Fruit	Trees	6,134.03	4,600.78	(25.00)	61,270.43	43,165.73
Industrial	Crop	1,372.00	1,230.54	(10.31)	2,560.88	2,306.68
Vegetables	159.36	178.00	11.70	958.00	872.78	(8.90)
Root Crops	167.25	270.25	61.58	1,051.25	942.00	(10.39)
	13,385.14	11,773.57	(12.04)

Land Area Devoted to Agricultural Production, 2014

The table below shows the different farm machinery and post-harvest facilities. Most of the farmers used farm tractors in tilling the land in all kind of crops, particularly in wide areas. There were 27 units of farm tractors, three units came from the Department of Agriculture (DA) where one unit was granted to Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology (MinSCAT), one unit to Oriental Mindoro Agricultural Experimentation Station (ORMAES) both at barangay Alcate, and one unit to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Victoria that is being used by farmers. There were 23 units which were privately owned by big land owners from 10 barangays. Likewise, hand tractors were used in rice production— lowland & irrigated areas. Operationally 451 units were found in 25 rice producing barangay and privately owned by individual rice farmers. One unit with complete accessories was given to San Juan Nepomuceno Farmers Association in barangay San Juan through counter-parting scheme. As of now, few farmers use animals in their crop production. Draft animals are commonly used by marginal farmers, particularly IPs in their production.

Existing Agricultural Support Facilities and Services, Year 2014

Post-harvest Facilities And Support Services	Location	Number	Type/ Capacity	Remarks
Milling	15 barangays	37		Operational
MPDP	24 barangays	85		Operational
Mechanical Drier	Bagong Buhay	1	100 bag per load	Operational
	Macatoc	1	-do-	Operational
	Mabini	1	-do-	Need Repair
	San Isidro	1	-do-	Operational
	San Narciso	1	-do-	Operational
	Babangonan	4	-do-	Operational
	Sub-total	15
Flatbed Drier	Alcate	1	100 bag per load	Operational
	Urdaneta	1	-do-	Operational
	Mabini	2	-do-	Operational
	Pob.3	1	-do-	Operational
	Sub-total	7
Rice Thresher	24 barangay	256	35-40 bag/hour	Operational & need repair
Farm Tractor	Bagong Buhay	1		Operational
	Alcate	3		Operational
	Macatoc	7		Operational
	Mabini	4		Operational
	San Narciso	2		Operational
	Urdaneta	1		Operational
	Babangonan	2		Operational
	Leido	5		Operational
	San Juan	1		Operational
	Poblacion IV	1		Operational
	Sub-total	27		Operational
Hand Tractor	24 barangays	451	25 to 30 bag/hour	Operational & need repair
Corn Sheller	Bagong Buhay	1	20 bag/hour	Operational
	Alcate	1
	Sub-total	2
Market Center	Pob.1	2		Operational
	Macatoc	1		Operational
	Sub-total	3		Operational
Warehouse	11 barangay	44		Operational
4-wheel tractor		29		Operational
Combine harvester		16		Operational
Water pump		175		Operational

With the continuing information and education campaign of the DA, the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro and the Municipal Government of Victoria, with the support of the rural-based organizations, the farming systems of the farming communities are now gradually changing from conventional farming into a natural farming system accounted to about 30% of farmers involved. This is manifested by the organization of different natural farmers’ association in the municipality and clamors to undergo natural farming systems training.

A. Rice Production

Of the 32 barangays of Victoria, 25 are rice producing, covering a total land area of 5,369 hectares, 85.03% of which is irrigated. Total production reached 40,518.66 MT, 88.06% of which is produced by the irrigated areas.

San Narciso, Urdaneta, and Babangonan have the biggest area of irrigated riceland at 710, 497 and 336 has, respectively. In terms of production in irrigated areas, San Narciso’s production was at its peak at 5,948.25 MT, highest of all the 25 irrigated rice producing barangays, followed by Urdaneta and Mabini. Babangonan is third in terms of area of irrigated riceland but 11th in terms of production in irrigated areas.

Total non-irrigated area based on the records of the Municipal Agriculture Office is 804 has. Barangays with large non-irrigated areas include Macatoc, Urdaneta, and Malabo.

In terms of total production both from irrigated and non-irrigated areas, San Narciso ranks first with total production of 5,317.80 MT followed by Urdaneta and Malabo with total production of 5,317.80 MT and 3,735.00 MT, respectively.

As a whole, the seven lakeside barangays have significant contribution to the production of rice in Victoria with total production of 19,621 MT, representing 48.42% of the municipality’s total rice production. These rice fields, however are exposed to flooding and in dire need of technical assistance and intervention. Farmers should be trained on climate-smart agriculture through the adoption of a new planting calendar, as well as climate-resilient varieties of planting materials.

Rice Area and Production per Barangay, 2014

#	Barangay	Irrigated		Non-Irrigated		Total
#	Barangay	Area in hectares	Production (MT)	Area in hectares	Production (MT)	Area in hectares	Production (MT)
1	Alcate	228.00	1,798.12	32.00	233.00	260.00	2,031.12
2	Antonino	128.00	1,038.25	37.00	301.75	165.00	1,340.00
3	Babangonan	336.00	1,316.00	72.00	228.00	408.00	1,544.00
4	Bagong Buhay	126.00	1,008.00	6.00	22.00	132.00	1,030.00
5	Bambanin
6	Bethel	85.00	895.00			85.00	895.00
7	Canaan	100.00	1,660.00			100.00	1,660.00
8	Doungan	156.00	1,766.00	58.50	465.08	214.50	2,231.08
9	Leido	225.00	2,253.00			225.00	2,253.00
10	Mabini	287.00	2,870.00			287.00	2,870.00
11	Macatoc	311.00	2,071.00	152.75	1,135.12	463.75	3,206.12
12	Malabo	314.00	2,635.50	135.00	1,099.50	449.00	3,735.00
13	Merit	54.00	136.00			54.00	136.00
14	Ordovilla	99.00	445.50			99.00	445.50
15	Pakyas	123.00	1,016.18			123.00	1,016.18
16	Pob.1	128.00	1,129.85	16.00	128.00	144.00	1,257.85
17	Pob.2	76.00	668.00			76.00	668.00
18	Pob.3	99.00	674.50	27.00	117.65	126.00	792.15
19	Pob.4	173.50	1,226.75	11.50	77.25	185.00	1,304.00
20	San Gabriel	15.00	63.75			15.00	63.75
21	San Gelacio	35.00	148.75			35.00	148.75
22	San Juan	183.50	1,396.43	93.00	657.51	276.50	2,053.94
23	San Narciso	711.00	5,948.25			711.00	5,948.25
24	Urdaneta	497.00	4,317.80	125.00	1,000.00	622.00	5,317.80
25	Villa Cerveza	75.00	597.27	38.25	250.60	113.25	847.87
TOTAL		4,565.00	34,743.21	804.00	6,153.99	5,369.00	40,518.66
% to TOTAL		85.03	85.75	14.97	15.19	100.00	100.00
Source: Municipal Agriculture Office, 2014

Harvesting of rice usually takes when 80% of panicles turn to yellow in color. Cutting and filing were manually done through contract (pakyaw); daily (arawan) and percentage (honusan) system of sharing. But now, this system has change due to the trend of using harvesters. Axial flow rice thresher was usually used in 25 barangays with the total of 256 units. The decreased in the number of the rice thresher can be observed because of the trend of combine harvesters in the municipality as its advantage take by the farmers.

Rice were sold in form of palay (grain) or rice. Marginal farmers sold their palay to local market. Value will depend to grain quality. Dry season had a higher price compared to wet season, because post-harvest facilities like dryer is lacking during harvest season. Price range to Php 14.00 to Php 17.00/kilo during wet season and Php 14.00 to Php 18.00/kilo during dry season both at 18% to 26% moisture content (MC). Fancy and glutinous rice and good eating quality varieties are of much higher price compared to ordinary rice. Likewise, local traders and big land owners market their products in terms of rice outside the province of Oriental Mindoro. Some rice farmer sold their palay in the National Food Authority (NFA) at Barcenaga, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro buying satellite station, and in Calapan City with additional trucking fee.

B. Fruit Production

It can be recalled from Table 4.3 above that total production of fruits has decreased from 61,270 MT in 2013 to 43,165.73 MT in 2014, which can be attributed to extreme weather conditions and climate change that prevent the flowering trees to continue developing into fruits due to pests and diseases. Aside from this, production area decreased due to cutting down of old trees. In 2014, prevalence of mussel scale insect was noted in the upland barangays.

Lanzones has the biggest area of production in 2014 which occupied 1,666.56 has. It is worthy to note that in 2013, calamansi ranks second in terms of area of production and ranks first in terms of volume. A significant decrease in area of calamansi from 1,660.85 MT in 2013 to 884 has in 2014 was observed. Majority of the calamansi producers shifted or converted their calamansi farms to other crops or trees like mahogany. Despite the decrease in area, calamansi still ranked first in terms of volume of production in 2014 at 11,304.00. At present, Victoria is still the leading calamansi producer of Oriental Mindoro.

Comparative Fruit Production (MT), 2013 and 2014

Major Crops	Area (Has.)			Volume of Production (MT)
Major Crops	2013	2014	Increase/ Decrease	2013	2014	Increase/ Decrease
Fruit Trees	6,134.03	4,600.78	(25.00)	61,270.43	43,165.73	(29.55)
Calamansi	1,660.85	884.00	(46.77)	15,329.35	11,304.00	(26.26)
Sintores	605.50	604.56	(0.16)	6,986.00	7,216.00	3.29
Rambutan	966.50	987.12	2.13	10,411.00	8,986.00	(13.69)
Lanzones	1,897.00	1,666.56	(12.15)	11,919.58	8,032.73	(32.61)
Durian	886.75	337.50	(61.94)	14,579.50	5,343.00	(63.35)
Mangosteen	21.25	20.94	(1.46)	339.00	454.00	33.92
Abiu	40.50	43.10	6.42	283.00	260.00	(8.13)
Mango	55.68	57.00	2.37	1,423.00	1,570.00	10.33