Farm output grows after successive contractions

Metro Manila, Philippines - The agriculture and fisheries sector finally posted growth in January to March after consecutive contractions in the last three quarters, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday, May 7.

Farm output was 1.9 percent from a dismal 0.2 percent year-on-year, then -3.2 percent, -3.6 percent, and -2 percent in subsequent quarters.

The PSA said the expansion was equivalent to P437.74 billion, marked by year-on-year increments in the value of crops, poultry, and fisheries.

On the other hand, livestock production declined by 2.8 percent year-on-year, with a value of P57.82 billion.

“Hog, which was the major contributor to the value of livestock production, contracted by 3.7 percent,” the PSA said.

Officials earlier said the hog industry has yet to fully recover from the impact of the highly contagious and often fatal African swine fever.

Poultry output in the first quarter, worth P75.22 billion, grew by 9.4 percent, the highest increase among subsectors.

The government will release data on the first quarter economic output, or gross domestic product, on Thursday.