Philippines’ agriculture sector grows by 5.8% in first half – DA

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine agriculture sector grew by 5.48% in the first semester of 2011, the Department of Agriculture said.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the sector was buoyed by record harvests in rice and corn in the first half of the year.

Harvests of palay or unmilled rice and corn was at 7.58 million metric tons (MT) and 3.31 million MT, respectively. The crops subsector — which contributed more than half (51.8%) to total agricultural output — grew by 11.1%.

The livestock and poultry subsectors — which grew by 0.85% and 3.6%, respectively — also contributed to the improved performance of the entire agriculture sector, the DA said.

The fisheries industry posted a decline by 2.9%, as commercial and municipal fish catch decreased during the first half of 2011.

Total gross value of agricultural output in the first semester of 2011 reached P706.4 billion at current prices, about 16 percent more than the 2010 level in the same period, the DA said.