Aklan can’t produce food for Boracay?

On its own, Aklan could not keep up with the demand for food in Boracay Island, according to Vice Gov. Gabrielle Calizo–Quimpo.
Vegetable, fruits, and livestock and poultry products, among others, in the island resort are imported from Davao, Iloilo, Baguio, and Mindoro.
The vice governor believes the next batch of Sangguniang Panlalawigan members should focus on the promotion of commercial agriculture.
For several years, Quimpo said, the provincial government and the Department of Agriculture have been encouraging farmers to engage in backyard farming.
“We need more farm inputs not only for our food security but also to feed [the] increasing number of tourists [in] Boracay,” she stressed.
However, various information about Aklan counter claims regarding its inability to produce food for one of the best tourism islands in the world.
Aside from its vibrant tourism industry, the province boasts of its farming and fishing industries. “Aklan depends greatly on agriculture,” read part of a post on the provincial government’s website describing the local economy.
“The massive and sustained education and research in agriculture production, the implementation of national program in agriculture, well-established marketing strategies, as well as the support of the agribusiness industry and other private and nongovernment sectors, result to better production and higher income of the farmers,” said the post.
Citing rice and coconut as Aklan’s major crops, the post stated that the province is developing “high-value crops with export potential, such as banana (lakatan), mango, rambutan, and lanzones, and fiber crops.”
The province also takes pride in its fishponds and offshore fishing, which “provide huge employment for Aklanons.”
“Aquaculture constitutes a significant component in the province’s fishery industry,” read the Aklan.gov.ph post. “The province has a total fishpond area of 7,807.14 hectares.” It also claimed Aklan is “sufficient in meat and other livestock and poultry products.”
Agriculture, fishery and forestry are dominant economic activities in Aklan, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).
“A total of 85,437.92 hectares are devoted to agriculture … planted mostly to root crops, rice and coconuts,” the NSCB said on its website. “[Aklan] has a growing livestock population. Bred commercially are poultry and swine.”
Aklan is also a “rich fishing area” because of the neighboring Sibuyan Sea, said the NSCB.
“Annual harvest is estimated at 13,814 metric tons. The province has 11 coastal municipalities where different species of fish and other marine resources like seaweed and oysters are abundant. The culture of prawns, crabs and milkfish (bangus) is a major activity. Prawns and crabs are the major exports of Aklan.”
But, if Quimpo were to be believed, these are not enough.
“Aklan province needs more commercial agricultural investors to ensure food supply,” she said. “Currently, there are only two investors in commercial agriculture. This is not enough.”