Philippine agriculture output up 1.8% in third quarter

The Philippine agricultural output expanded in July to September after two straight quarters of contraction as production of crops, livestock, and poultry grew, government data released Wednesday show.

Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicate that the value of production in agriculture and fisheries at constant 2018 prices grew by 1.8% in the third quarter, faster than the -0.6% in the second quarter and the -2.6% in the same quarter last year.

At current prices, the value of production amounted to P501.584 billion, reflecting an annual growth of 12.3%.

Crops — which accounted for 53.9% of total production — also jumped by 1.8% to P223.483 billion, with palay (unmilled rice) up 1.0% to P83.035 billion and corn up 2.5% to P33.495 billion.

The biggest increases were seen in sugarcane production up 78.8% to P3.277 billion, and abaca up 21.7% to P1.355 billion.

Livestock accounted for 15.2% of total production for the period, equivalent to P64.514 billion or 4.0% higher than the same period last year.

Hog production grew by 4.5% P52.922 billion, cattle by 1.2% to P5.791 billion, and carabao by 3.5% to P2.982 billion.

Poultry had a 15.2% contribution to total production, posting an annual growth of 6.4% to P63.060 billion which was slower than the 7.8% recorded in the previous quarter to P63.615 billion.

Chicken production climbed 6.7% to P43.539 billion, chicken eggs by 6.1% to P17.522 billion, and duck eggs by 13.9% P1.317 billion, while duck fell by 12.1% P682 million.

Fisheries production declined by 4.2% to P63.210 billion, accounting for 15.3% of the total production for the quarter.

Double-digit declines were seen in mudcrab or alimango down 32.5%, blue crab or alimasag down 29.4%, Indian mackerel or alumahan down 20.7%, tiger prawn or sugpo down 20.5%, Bali sardinella or tamban down 17.2%, grouper or lapu-lapu down 14.2%, and milkfish or bangus down 10.9%. —LBG, GMA Integrated News