Ilocos Norte farmers revive cotton industry

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

PINILI, Ilocos Norte—In the small barangay of Lumbaan, this town, at least 25 farmers have seen a great opportunity to increase their income and at the same time to rekindle their sense of pride through reviving a dying cotton industry.

Elders recall Lumbaan used to have cotton fields, an important raw material in the making of inabel loom-weaving products. But as tobacco industry grew robust in this part of Luzon, farmers shifted to tobacco farming, leaving behind cotton.

Cotton, a natural fiber used to be the fiber of choice among traditional weavers but with the scarcity of the material in the last decades, weavers have switched to synthetic threads imported from China.

Due to lack of raw materials, the local loom-weaving industry here also suffered almost a natural death until two years ago, Dr. Joven Cuanang, a well-known patron of the arts and neurologist who just retired as Medical Director of St. Luke’s Hospital, was able to convince some farmers to try cotton seeds as an alternative plant, next to staple crops such as rice, tobacco and vegetables. 

Marjo Galinato, one of the pioneering farmers of Brgy. Lumbaan who initially planted cotton on his half-hectare of land gave him better income than his average income on rice. 

From a half-hectare rice land, Mr. Galinato said he decided to expand his 2.5-hectare rice farm, now planted alternatively with cotton during the second cropping season. 

Comparing yield of both crops, he attests his gross income of ₱350,000 on cotton is higher or more than doubled his rice crop per year.

With a minimum capital of ₱30,000 per hectare, Mr. Galinato added planting cotton as an alternative crop is very rewarding because it is not labor intensive and it can be harvested after a period of four months.

In a year’s time, from a community of five farmers, there are now 25 cotton farmers at Barangay Lumbaan who are being assisted by the Philippine Cotton Industry in terms of technology and marketing assistance.

According to Dr. Cuanang, Pinili can become very progressive should a barangay like Lumbaan become a center for weaving.

Banking on a master loom-weaver Magdalena Gamayo, 93, a national living treasure who hails from this town, Dr. Cuanang said it is very important to ensure cotton will be produced locally instead of importing raw materials from China.

“The whole world is looking for products which are organic, ecologically sensitive and handcrafted by people. So, with a brand like Magdalena Gamayo, we need to help them [local community] in developing the production chain,” explained Dr. Cuanang.

In 2012, the NCCA recognized Ms. Gamayo as a “national treasure” for her excellence in textile weaving. 

Through Ms. Gamayo’s guidance and sharing of expertise, Pinili is also actively engaged in the training of more young weavers and let this Ilocano weaving tradition stay from generation to the next generation.