Agri sector posts 2.94% growth

The agriculture sector grew by 2.94 percent in the first nine months this year, with all subsectors exhibiting production gains. At current prices, the entire sector grossed P419.1 billion.

Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor, in a press briefing yesterday, said the crops subsector posted a modest growth of 2.13 percent, with gross production value of P211.4 billion.

The livestock subsector maintained its pace at 2.87 percent with the hog industry showing a much improved performance. The poultry industry turned in a 5.07-percent growth with the chicken subsector expanding by 6.39 percent.

The fishery subsector grew by 3.5 percent with all components faring well. Aquaculture posted 4.47-percent growth which boosted this subsector’s performance.

The gains were achieved despite weak farmgate prices which dropped by an average of 2.27 percent, with crop prices posting the highest decline at 7.44 percent. Price quotations for livestock and fisheries were higher by 2.94 percent and 5.69 percent, respectively. Poultry prices recovered from last year’s slump and recorded a 2.43-percent growth.

In the crops subsector, lower prices pulled down the gross earnings of the sugar and coconut subsectors by 22.72 percent and 4.05 percent, respectively.

Banana recorded a 3.87-percent expansion in gross returns. This was attributed to increases in production and prices. On the other hand, lower prices led to contractions in the mango, pineapple, coffee tobacco and abaca subsectors.

Winners in the crops subsector included onions which, despite declines in production, registered the biggest increase of 105.38 percent due to higher farmgate prices. Tomato farms recovered from last year’s loss and grossed 31.46 percent more this year due to improvements in production and prices.

Gross earnings from rubber, mongo and eggplant were higher by 1.03 percent, 10.61 percent and 31.76 percent, respectively. Peanut and camote benefited from price gains during the period, gross earnings correspondingly expanded by 7.44 and 12.19 percent, respectively.

During the period, the crops subsector contributed 50.37 percent of total agricultural output, up by 2.13 percent this year. Palay production at 7.97 million metric tons was 1.5 percent bigger than last year.

Production of coconut was up by 6.11 percent, mainly because of intensive fertilizer application. The industry recovered slightly from the adverse effects of weather conditions in the past.

Increase in area harvested for sugarcane resulted in a 2.04-percent growth for the subsector. Banana growers came up with 2.29 percent increment as a result of favorable weather conditions and sufficient water supply.

Fiber crops, which lost 26.95 percent in production, was the biggest loser this year. Its poor performance was traced to crop shifting and lower production of ramie, coir and magucy.

The fishery subsector accounted for 20.97 percent of total agricultural production. The improved production in the first six months was sustained, generating a 3.5-percent increase in output this year. Commercial fisheries turned in a 2.69-percent gain. There were reports of bigger volumes of catch of tuna, mackerel, roundscad, big-eyed scad, Indian sardines and fimbriated sardines, Montemayor said.

Municipal fisheries recorded a 2.97-percent growth because of favorable weather and the rehabilitation of coastal marine resources and improved peace and order conditions.