PSA: Agri output contracted for second straight quarter in Q3

The Philippine agricultural output contracted for the second straight quarter in the July to September period given the negative performance of crops and fisheries, government data released on Wednesday showed.

Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the value of production in agriculture and fisheries at constant 2018 prices fell by 0.3% in the third quarter, following the 1.2% drop in the second quarter and a reversal of the 1.6% growth last year.

Crops — which accounted for 54.0% of total production — posted a 0.4% decline during the period. The biggest reductions were seen in sugarcane (-26.4%), potato (-26.0%), mongo (-21.1%), cabbage (-17.5%), and rubber (-12.7%).

The biggest increases were seen in onion up 165.1%, tobacco up 122.1%,  mango up 15.2%, cacao up 5.5%, and pineapple up 3.5%.

Fisheries, which accounted for 14.2%, saw a 6.1% decline on the back of lower production seen in tiger prawn, bigeye tuna, fimbriated sardines, cavalla (talakitok), squid, threadfin bream (bisugo), blue crab (alimasag), and skipjack, among others.

Livestock posted a 2.5% growth, accounting for 16.0% of total production. Growth was seen in the production of hog and goat, while reductions were seen in cattle, carabao, and dairy.

Poultry accounted for 15.7% of total production after seeing a 2.9% increase. Higher production was seen in chicken, chicken eggs, and ducks, but a decline was recorded in duck eggs during the period. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News