Agri output inched higher in 1st half

Agricultural output grew by 1.4 percent in the first semester on the back of expansion in the subsectors of fisheries, poultry, livestock and palay.

Data from the Department of Agriculture show that the total gross value of agricultural products amounted to P697.2 billion in current prices during the first half.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala on Wednesday said fisheries, which accounted for 18 percent of total output, showed the strongest growth at 4.44 percent.

This was a turnaround from a decline of 3.2 percent in the first semester of 2012.

Alcala said the subsector has started to rebound because of initiatives implemented in the past three years meant to make production sustainable and to conserve resources.

Also, poultry output increased by 4.39 percent year on year while livestock production went up 2.1 percent.

Palay production gained 1.3 percent to 8 million metric tons (MT) valued at P129 billion.

During the second quarter alone, agricultural output was almost flat posting a slight decline of 0.02 percent.

In the April-June period, corn output plunged by 25.92 percent, as did palay production by 1.86 percent.

“We are confident that we could achieve 100 percent rice self-sufficiency by yearend,” Alcala said.

He cited the continued provision of irrigation services and quality seeds as well as technical, post-harvest and marketing assistance as bolstering the country’s chances to meet the demand for the staple grain.