Philippine agriculture posts 1.5% growth in first 3 quarters

Philippine agriculture posted a 1.5 percent growth year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2009, with livestock, poultry and fisheries subsectors as the top growth drivers for this period, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said today.

In terms of gross value the agricultural output amounted to P849.3 billion ($18.14 billion) at current prices or 1.62 percent higher than last years level.

Production of some high value commercial crops dropped, thus the negative growth rate noted in the crops subsector.

The crops subsector, which accounted for 46.92 percent of total agricultural production, recorded a 0.15 percent drop during the period. The adverse impact of recent typhoons was indicated by the slower growth rate of palay production. Total output at 10.90 million metric tons was 2.90 percent higher than last years record indicated by sufficient water from irrigation system and also increased area planted.

Gross value of crop production was P450 billion ($9.61 billion) at current prices. This was 1.77 percent lower than last years record.

The livestock subsector almost recovered from 2008 slump as it grew by 1.95 percent level. The growth was mainly due to hog production, which posted a 2.22 percent increase this year. The subsector accounted for 12.36 percent of total agricultural output. At current prices, the subsector grossed P138.4 billion ($296 billion), a 4.89 percent increase during the period.

The poultry subsector posted a 3.46 percent increase output gain this year. Production of chicken and chicken eggs decreased by 3.21 percent and 6.33 percent, respectively. Slower expansion in the broiler production in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog province, Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao. Also, the slowdown in broiler production in the third quarter as a result of tight supply of day old chicks during the period.

In terms of gross receipt, the subsector amounted to P100.3 billion ($2.15 billion) at current prices, up by 11.38 percent this year.

The fisheries subsector, which shred 26.63 percent in total agricultural output, grew by 3.28 percent. Production in the aquaculture expanded by 4.50 percent while that commercial fisheries went up 3.75 percent. The subsector grossed P160.6 billion ($3.43 billion) at current prices or 3. 18 percent more than the previous years level.

On the average, farmgate prices increased at a slower rate of 0.12 percent during the January-September period. The poultry subsector recorded the biggest price hike of 7.65 percent. In the livestock subsector, there was a 2.88 percent gain in prices.

Meanwhile, average prices in the crops and fisheries subsector indicated decreases of 1.62 percent and 0.09 percent, respectively.