Philippine agri output contracts for second straight quarter

The Philippine agricultural output continued to contract in the second quarter of the year due mainly to the lower production of crops and fisheries, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday showed.

The value of production in Philippine agriculture and fisheries at constant 2018 prices contracted by 0.6% in the second quarter, following the -0.3% in the first three months of the year.

At current prices, the value of production amounted to P532.79 billion, equivalent to an annual growth of 6.2%.

Crops — accounting for 54.9% of the total value of production — fell by 2.8%, with the biggest drop seen in sugarcane at -53.8%, followed by other crops at -12.9%, and coffee at -7.1%.

Fisheries, which accounted for 15.8% of the total production value, contracted by 2.3%, as double-digit drops were seen in tiger prawn or sugpo down 30.8%, blue crab or alimasag down 28.5%, and frigate tuna or tulingan down 21.8%.

Declines were also seen in mudcrab or alimango which fell 20.9%, cavalla or talakitok down 16.6%, and milkfish or bangus down 15.5%.

Livestock production grew by 2.0%, with the biggest increase seen in dairy up by 22.2%, followed by hog by 3.0%, and cattle by 0.9%. Declines were seen in goat production, which fell 6.7%, and carabao production by 3.9%.

Poultry increased by 7.8%, as duck eggs jumped 11.5%, chicken eggs increased by 10.5%, and chicken by 6.9%. Duck production fell by 7.5%. —KBK, GMA News