Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 8) — The country’s agricultural production slumped further in July to September, contracting by 2.6%, according to figures released Monday by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The rate is down from the 0.7% growth in the same period a year ago. It is also reflects a deeper decline than the -1.5% in April to June, with all sectors except for poultry logging negative growth for the quarter.
Growth rates are based on constant 2018 prices, the agency noted.
However, in terms of current prices, overall agricultural and fishery produce was valued at ₱446.46 billion, up by 5.2% annually. Most average farmgate prices went up during the quarter, particularly for livestock and poultry.
Crops, which comprise 54% of overall production, logged a 0.2% drop during the three months. While palay (milled rice) output grew by 6.7%, corn production contracted by 18.6%.
Abaca led crops in posting declines at 21.9%, followed by cabbage at 18.1% and potato at 13%. Sugarcane logged the highest growth rate at 110.8%, trailed by pineapple, calamansi and tobacco.
Livestock production plummeted anew during the period by 15.2%. The sector, which has a 15.3% in overall agricultural output, saw all subsectors except for carabao production plunge. Carabao output grew by 9.5% in the said three months.
Hog output suffered the worst drop at 17.8% followed by goat, dairy, and cattle production.
Fishery output — which contributed 16.2% to overall production — fell by 0.4% in the third quarter. The PSA noted decreases for tambakol (bigeye tuna) at 41.1%, followed by alimasag (blue crab) and tulingan (frigate tuna).
Alimango (mudcrab) saw the highest increase at 29.2%, followed by bangus (milkfish) and matangbaka (big-eyed scad).
For January to September, overall agricultural and fishery production plummeted by 2.5% according to the agency.
The Department of Agriculture earlier lowered its growth target for the industry to 2% from the prior 2.5%.
