PHL agriculture output grows 2.87% in Q3 2019

The country's agriculture sector saw a recovery in the third quarter of 2019 as it grew 2.87% from a 0.87% decline in the same period last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday.

"This is a much better performance. We will continue to enhance the proper and sustained implementation of programs and projects of the Department of Agriculture to further elevate the growth of the agriculture sector," Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement.

"We were expecting between 2.0% and 2.5% [growth]. This shows that the farmers and fishers are showing a resilient performance with the programs and projects of the DA," Dar said.

Increases were noted for crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries.

Crop production which accounted for 45.19% of the total agricultural output went grew by 2.01% during the period as corn went up by 23.47% despite the 4.53% decrease in palay output.

The decline in palay production was attributed to the substantial reduction in harvested areas in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN due to insufficient water supply.

"The same reason was cited for decreases in harvested areas in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Caraga," according to the PSA.

For the corn production, recovery was seen amid the expansion of harvested areas in Cagayan Valley as corn farmers recovered from the damages brought by Typhoon "Mangkhut” (Ompong) in 2018.

"Further, there was shifting from cassava and sugarcane to corn production in the region. Similarly, CAR reported recovery from the damages caused by Typhoon "Mangkhut” (Ompong) in 2018," the PSA said.

In Central Luzon and Northern Mindanao, the statistics body noted that the better yield performance of corn was traced to the seed program interventions of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units (LGUs).

Likewise, more plantings and higher yield were reported in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as a result of the program interventions of DA and LGUs.

Livestock production, meanwhile, grew 1.63% in the third quarter. The livestock sector contributed 18.67% to the total agricultural output.

Hog production recorded an uptrend of 1.96% despite reports of increases in slaughtering activities and early disposals of stocks in Cagayan Valley, MIMAROPA Region and Zamboanga Peninsula due to the fear of being affected by African swine fever (ASF).

Higher average liveweight of hogs disposed of in CALABARZON, Western Visayas and Central Visayas was also cited.

"In addition, there were higher demand for pork in Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga during the reference quarter," the PSA said.

Dairy production went up by 6.48% amid an increase in the inventory of dairy animals was likewise recorded.

Poultry production registered an 8.41% increment this quarter. It shared 19.44% in the total agricultural output.

All poultry commodities recorded production increases, according to the PSA.

Fisheries production which shared 16.70% in the total agricultural output grew by 0.56% in the third quarter as milkfish, skipjack and seaweed registered increases in production.

At current prices, the total value of agricultural production amounted to P395.3 billion, 3.64% lower than the previous year’s record.

This as total crop production value went down by 7.07% to P199.6 billion as the value of palay production declined by 29.82% due to lower volume of production and reduction in price.

Meanwhile, corn came up with 14.43% increase in output value this quarter because of higher volume of production.

The total value of livestock production in the third amounted to P70.1 billion, down 6.49% from the previous year’s level.

Hog posted an 8.70% lower output value this period as a result of reduced price level.

Meanwhile, the uptrend in prices contributed to higher values of production from goat by 6.19%, cattle by 4.35% and carabao by 4.24%.

The total value of poultry production amounted to P61.5 billion or 9.60% more this quarter compared to last year’s record.

Chicken came up with a 5.79% growth in the output value because of higher volume of production.

The output values were up for chicken eggs by 21.19%, duck by 12.60% and duck eggs by 10.62% and these were attributed to the combined increases in the volume of production and prices.

Fisheries production was valued at P64.1 billion, down 0.41% lower than the previous year’s record.

The value of roundscad production contracted by 8.57% due to decreases in both volume of output and price.

Production shortfalls resulted in the reduced output values of tiger prawn by 3.65% and tilapia by 0.64%.

The gains in the values of production of skipjack at 20.83% and seaweed at 6.65% were attributed to higher volume of production and increased price levels.

Expansion in output pushed up the value of milkfish production by 9.48%. Because of price hike, higher output value was noted for yellowfin tuna at 10.28%. —KG, GMA News