Agri subsidies hit P3.5B in 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Subsidies provided by the government to support the business operation of agriculture, forestry and fishing establishments in the country grew almost five times to P3.5 billion from P619.3 million in 2012 two years ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

“Support activities to agriculture and post-harvest crop activities received P3.5 billion or 98.9 percent of the total subsidies,” the statistics agency said.

Other industries that received subsidies in 2012 were as follows: growing of perennial crops (one percent), growing of non-perennial crops (0.1 percent) and aquaculture (less than 0.1 percent).

The PSA said the value of total assets of the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector reached P168.3 billion in 2012.

Among industries, support activities to agriculture and post-harvest crop activities and growing of perennial crops led the sector in terms of ownership of total assets with P63.7 billion or 37.8 percent and P62.2 billion or 37 percent, respectively.

By region, the National Capital Region had the highest total assets amounting to P66 billion or 39.2 percent.

Davao Region came in second with P28.7 billion worth of assets (17 percent), followed by Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and Gen. Santos City) with P28.5 billion (17 percent).

Placing fourth was Northern Mindanao with P17.3 billion (10.3 percent), while Western Visayas was at the fifth place at P6.4 billion (3.8 percent).

The PSA said the country had a total of 856 establishments engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2012, 15.1 percent higher than the 744 establishments recorded in 2010.

The positive growth was mainly brought by the 112 newly listed establishments.

Among the industry groups, animal production had the most number of establishments in the sector with 244 establishments, accounting for 28.5 percent.

The PSA noted that Western Visayas had the highest number of agriculture, forestry and fishing establishments with 210 or 24.5 percent of the total.

In terms of output, the total value generated by the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector rose 31.2 percent to P105.7 billion in 2012 from P80.6 billion in 2010.