Farm sector 2019 growth way below goal

The agriculture sector grew by 0.4 percent in the last quarter of 2019, bringing the full-year growth to 0.67 percent, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

This is way below the Duterte administration’s target for the industry, which is at least 2.5 percent. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the sector should at least grow at that rate to keep up with the country’s growing population and demand for food.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar blamed the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak and the strong typhoons that damaged or destroyed some P16 billion worth of agricultural commodities throughout 2019 for the laggard growth.

The farm sector was especially battered by typhoons “Tisoy” and “Ursula.”

Based on the PSA report, the value of production for the last quarter of 2019 hit P492 billion, down 5.3 percent from the same quarter in 2018.

The value of crops was lower by 10.1 percent in the fourth quarter than the same quarter a year ago, with the value of palay diving by 21.3 percent.

Corn registered a 25.4-percent decline as a result of contractions in volume of production and price.

In terms of production, the sector was able to register increases in crops, poultry and fishery, while livestock suffered an 8.5-percent drop due to the ASF.

Dar, however, remains positive that the farm sector would be able to perform much better this year “with good planning and proper implementation of new and existing programs.”

He said outcomes of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program would be reflected in the first semester of this year.

The program, which receives an annual budget of P10 billion, aims to increase rice farmers’ productivity through the provision of seeds, machinery, credit and agricultural training.