PHL farm output jumps 2.8% in Q3

THE PHILIPPINES’ agricultural production grew by 2.8% in the third quarter, as strong crops and poultry output offset the decline in livestock and fisheries, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

- By Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel

Data from the PSA showed the value of agriculture and fisheries production rose by 2.8% to P408.94 billion in the July-to-September period, a turnaround from the 3.6% contraction in the same period last year.

Quarter on quarter, farm output growth slowed from the eight-year high of 5.7%.

“This growth was driven by the increase in the value of crop and poultry production. However, the value of livestock and fisheries production contracted during the period,” the PSA said, citing constant 2018 prices.

At current prices, the value of production in agriculture and fisheries rose to P533.16 billion, lower than the previous quarter's output of P606.86 billion.

In the first nine months, agricultural output averaged 3.5%, a turnaround from the -2.2% in the same period last year.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. told reporters that the agriculture sector is “heading in the right direction.” He expressed confidence the sector will recover from last year’s 2.2% decline, which reflected the impact of El Niño and several typhoons.

Crops output, which accounted for 53.3% of the total value of agricultural production, jumped by 3% to P218 billion in the third quarter, This was a turnaround from the 5.2% decline in the same period last year.

In the first nine months, crop production growth averaged 5%, improving from the 4.7% decline in the same period last year.

Former Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar told BusinessWorld via Viber that crop production rose in the third quarter despite inclement weather due to an "increase in hectarage of rice, ability to bounce back to production, and distribution of agricultural inputs and machineries."