Named after the Muslim leader Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, Sultan Kudarat became a separate province on November 22, 1973. Sultan Kudarat is located on the southwestern part of Mindanao Island. It is composed of 12 municipalities with a total land area of 478,318.98 hectares.

Geography
The province is located on the southwestern part of the island of Mindanao. It is bounded on the north by the provinces of Maguindanao and Cotabato, on the south by South Cotabato, on the east by Davao del Sur, and on the west by the Celebes Sea.

 

Political Subdivision
Sultan Kudarat consists of twelve municipalities: the coastal towns of Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang, and the inland municipalities of Bagumbayanm Columbio, Esperanza, Isulan, Lutayan, Lambayong, President Quirino, Tacurong, and the newly created municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino. In terms of land area, Bagumbayan is the largest municipality while Tacurong is the smallest. Growth centers are Lebak, Isulan, and Tacurong which is highly urbanized and is considered to be the commercial center of the province.

 

Population
The province has a total population of 586,505 as of 2000 census.

 

Language/Dialects
The 2000 census of population showed a total of 84 dialects spoken in the province. The major dialects are Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), Maguindanao, Ilocano, Cebuano, and Manobo.

 

Climate
Sultan Kudarat falls under the type B climate characterized by a short dry season of one to three months and with an average of 92.78 millimeters of rainfall every month. The province has an advantage over other provinces since it is free from typhoons and the rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.

 

Industries
Sultan Kudarat is predominantly and extensively agricultural. Endowed with a rich and vast agriculture potential, the province raises practically all kinds of crops grown in the country. It has a marketable surplus of rice, corn, beef, coffee, and vegetables. It is self-sufficient in poultry, swine, and root crops. It has the widest compact area and is included in the yellow corn export zone.

Fishing, whether marine, brackish water, or fresh water, is a fast growing industry. High-quality tuna catch in the so-called Sultan Kudarat tuna sanctuary along the shores of Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang are exported to Japan and Europe. There are 482 hectares of existing brackish water and fresh water fishponds which supply more than sufficiently the local needs of the populace.

Other important economic activities are cottage industries such as rattan and woodcrafts. Industrial establishments include logging, grains complex, african oil palm extraction plant, feedmill, rice bran oil extraction plant and refinery.

 

Source:

Wikipedia