Antique revives cotton, brings hope to farmers and weavers

By Mariane Gabrielle C. Cagalawan

After almost 40 years, Antique is reviving cotton farming to help more people, especially farmers and weavers affected by the pandemic.

Last Dec 15, 2020, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) turned over the Cotton Processing and Weaving Center to Patnongon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC) and the local government unit (LGU) in Padang, Patnongon, Antique.

It is the first cotton processing center in Visayas and the first fully operational one in the Philippines,

According to Evelyn Cagasan, Officer-in-Charge of PhilFIDA Region 6, the project was initiated by PhilFIDA with funding from the National Government through the initiative of Rep. Loren Legarda to use 100% Philippine cotton for weaving.

Cagasan added that they chose PMPC after seeing its capacity to manage and handle the operations of the processing and weaving center due to its large number of members, around 10,000, who will also be aided by the facility soon.

PMPC grabbed the opportunity, hoping to bring back the cotton industry and provide livelihood to Antiqueños.

“Makatugro gid tana kang employment, kapin pa sa mga taga-Patnongon,” said Anecar Vera Cruz, PMPC Manager.

REPLANTING COTTON TO HARVEST OPTIMISM 

Back in the 1980s, Patnongon farmed cotton which was sold at Php7 per kilo in Iloilo. However, the absence of a ready-market discouraged farmers from planting the crop.

The Cotton Processing and Weaving Center, as a ready and accessible market, now purchases cotton for at least Php25 per kilo, which encouraged farmers to plant cotton again.

Couple Lilibeth and Weddie Agustin, who planted cotton in the 80s in Pandanan, Patnongon, made use of their unutilized land to give cotton a second chance.

According to them, the COVID-19 pandemic badly hit agriculture, especially rice.

“Mahal ang abono kag bulong, pero barato ang baklanay ka paray. Lugi gid kami,” they said.

PhilFIDA reintroduced the technology on how to plant the crop, conducted free seminars, and provided assistance to farmers such as monetary aid for labor, seeds, fertilizer, and pesticide.

“Tiyaga lang.” Mr. Agustin said, adding that the only investment required from them is perseverance and patience in terms of labor like maintenance.

After their first harvest in 2021, their income from cotton farming helped support their family’s needs in the middle of the pandemic.

“Amo ra ang nakasuporta sa mga kinahanglanon sa balay kang pamilya namon”.

Neighboring farmers from the municipality and even the province witnessed the potential of cotton crops and are now beginning to engage in cotton farming as well.

The couple expressed their joy as one of the pioneer farmers who revived cotton through the initiative of PhilFIDA– inspiring more farmers to grab the opportunity cotton has to offer. “Nalipay kami nga nakabulig man kami sa iba,” they said.

The increase in the number of farmers who showed interest in cotton farming pushed PMPC to expand the total land used for the crop from 8 hectares to 23 hectares.

WEAVING THREADS TO ELEVATE LIVES

After harvest, the products are sent to the facility to undergo machine processes turning cotton into thread.

PMPC hired employees from Brgy. Padang, the out-of-school youth, and students who wish to earn and undertake on-the-job training (OJT).

Vera Cruz explained that they were not stern with the employees’ educational attainment because PhilFIDA provided sufficient training and seminars to equip them with knowledge about machine operations.

“Ang importante, tandus kaw kag knowledgeable kung paano i-operate ang machine,” she added.

One of the employees aided by the facility was Christine Regoniel who had no permanent source of income because of the pandemic.

“Kato, raket raket lang kag libud kang isda,” Regoniel said.

She shared her sentiments on how her stable job in the facility eased her anxiety in supplying her family’s daily needs.

“Bahul gid mabulig na kay may permanente ron kami nga burul-an kang income namon,” she said.

Cotton threads produced are received by the Parangabuhian: Weaving and Dyeing Center, just right next to the facility.

Loida Baldevia, one of the weavers, experienced the struggles in looking for a secure source of income, just like Regoniel.

According to Baldevia, weaving eased her burden during the pandemic in looking for ways to support her children’s education and needs.

Baldevia also shared her proud moment when she expressed satisfaction with her first-time experience as a member of the weaving facility.

“Nasadyahan ako nga makapatong ako sa amo ja nga sitwasyon—nga mapakita ko ang akon talento sa weaving kag design,” she said.

Currently, PMPC has produced and sold cotton shawls. The cooperative plans to engage in textile manufacturing to produce clothing pieces such as shirts and shoes.

As Vera Cruz said, when operations continue to perform smoothly, they plan to encourage more farmers and hire more employees and weavers to further help Antiqueños like the Agustins, Regoniel, and Baldevia.

Mariane Gabrielle C. Cagalawan is a Communications and Media Studies student of UP Visayas.