PH agriculture sector grows 2.6% to ₱1.77T in 2025

The Philippines’ agriculture sector saw a recovery in 2025, ending the year with a production value of P1.771 trillion —its highest level in five years.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the value of production of crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries grew by 2.6% from P1.726 trillion. In 2024, the agricultural output decreased by 2.2% due to the effects of tropical cyclones, the El Niño phenomenon, pests, and diseases.

At a press briefing in Quezon City on Wednesday, Department of Agriculture spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the 2025 performance surpassed the DA’s target of 1% to 2% growth rate. 

“This is a testament that despite the challenges, both on the changing weathers and challenges on animal diseases, the sector remains resilient,” de Mesa said.

The overall growth of agricultural value of production was driven by the poultry sub-sector, offsetting the decline in crop production, particularly rice and corn, which was dragged down by weather disturbances during the final quarter of 2025.

“Poultry remains to be the most vibrant among the sub-sectors, growing 8.9% in the last quarter and 9.1% for the whole of last year,” de Mesa said.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, poultry production value stood at P78.2 billion, while full-year production value amounted to P304.7 billion.

Poultry accounted for roughly 16% of total agricultural output.

Crop production saw a decline of 2.5% to P274.3 billion as weather disturbances disrupted harvest during the fourth quarter of 2025.

Nonetheless, crop output posted a 2.8% growth to P986.8 billion in full-year 2025, accounting for the lion’s share of 56% of total agricultural production. 

Fisheries grew by 4% in the fourth quarter of 2025 to P66.1 billion but ended the year lower at P233.7 billion, down 0.3%.

Livestock production rose by 1% in the fourth quarter of 2025 to P68.4 billion, driven largely by swine.

However, it fell by 2.3% for the full year to P246.4 billion, “reflecting lingering structural challenges in the sector.”

Signaling sustained recovery, the hog sub-sector posted 1.6% growth in the fourth quarter of 2025—the first expansion since the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., in a statement, said the government is shifting from reaction to resilience. 

“We’re now laying the groundwork for a smarter, climate-resilient agriculture,” he said, pointing to investments in cold storage, drying facilities, silos, upgraded rice processing systems, greenhouses, and smart irrigation. The goal is to temper weather shocks, stabilize supply, and smooth food prices for both producers and consumers,” Tiu Laurel said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News