Agri sector posts 6.18% growth in Q2 output—PSA

Philippine agriculture production saw an increase of 6.18 percent year-on-year in the second quarter to reach P210 billion at constant prices, maintaining its growth from last quarter after a series of decline, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show.

Performance of the agriculture sector in the same period last year saw a decline of 2.34 percent due to a prolonged dry spell and damage caused by typhoons “Lando” and “Nona.”

In terms of current prices, growth this quarter was pegged at 11.41 percent with P422.36 billion in gross receipts. Cumulatively, agricultural output revved up by 5.72 percent in the first half of the year.

According to PSA, the crops and poultry sub-sectors grew while the livestock and fishery sub-sectors saw an output decline.

BACKSTORY: PH agri output grew 5.3% in Q1, says PSA

Crops remain to be the biggest contributor in the total agricultural production with 50.75 percent share. Production grew by 11.72 percent or P231.61 billion, driven by favorable weather conditions and the usage of good quality seeds.

Moreover, improvement in production and price caused the turnaround in gross earnings of garlic which grew by 101.91 percent amidst the alleged resurgence of garlic cartel.

The livestock sub-sector’s total agricultural output meanwhile decreased by 1.38 percent, although its gross earnings saw a 12.48 percent growth that amounted to P71.92 billion at current prices.

Except for dairy, all components of the sub-sector recorded output losses. The drop in the number of animals slaughtered were seen as a factor, as farms were keeping stocks for breeding purposes to be used as draft animals.

Production in the fisheries sub-sector also declined by 2.93 percent as the strict implementation of “no registration, no fishing” policy and other laws affected the volume of unloadings and the frequency of fishing operations in some provinces.

At current prices, the sub-sector still grossed P63.51 billion, 4.40 percent higher year-on-year.

As for the poultry sub-sector, it grossed P55.32 billion at current prices, up by 10.07 percent from the previous year’s earnings. A decline is expected in the next quarter as a bird flu outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga is causing ripples in the demand and supply of fowls.

READ: Bird flu strikes Pampanga town

On the average, farm-gate prices went up by 4.93 percent during the reference quarter, as price increments were recorded in all sub-sectors. The first half of the year recorded an increase in prices by an average of 4.17 percent.