Philippine Q1 agriculture output up 5.28% year-on-year

Philippine agricultural output grew by 5.28 percent in the first quarter compared with a year earlier, rebounding from a contraction in the previous quarter largely due to good weather, the statistics office said on Monday.

The sector was driven by the improved performance of all farming subsectors led by crops, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) noted.

"At current prices, the gross value of agricultural production amounted to P407.6 billion. This was 8.79 percent higher than the previous year's record," the PSA said.

"All subsectors posted output increments with the crops subsector as the major growth driver during the period," it added.

"The 5.28-percent growth of the agri sector could be attributed to the blessings of a good climate and favorable conditions in the farming sector," Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said in a separate statement.

"It is also an indication that we are on the right track in agri and fisheries development," he said.

He noted, however, that the industry needs to sustain its growth momentum moving forward.

"But, a lot more needs to be done. With the implementation of easy access financing, agri and fisheries could be further boosted. We need to work harder," he said.

"All that we need to do is to faithfully follow the road maps we have prepared. We cannot go wrong," he added.

Crop output, accounting for nearly 54 percent of total agricultural production, rose 8.28 percent, with the paddy rice harvest up 12.38 percent to 4.42 million tons. All other sub-sectors posted gains, with livestock up 3.22 percent, poultry up 1.88 percent and fisheries up 0.73 percent.

Crop production grew by 8.28 percent, accounting for 53.66 percent of total agricultural production.

The numbers were released three days ahead of third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data for the first quarter. Agriculture accounts for about a tenth of the Philippine GDP.

A year-long trend

Palay or unhusked rice production rose by 12.38 percent, while corn production increased by 23.44 percent. Production gains were also noted in sugarcane, banana, pineapple, tobacco, peanut, mongo, cassava, tomato, garlic, onion, eggplant, and rubber.

"At current prices, the subsector grossed P233.5 billion which was 10.45 percent more than last year's gross receipts," the PSA said.

Livestock posted a 3.22 percent output growth to P65.4 billion, accounting for 16.85 percent of total agricultural output, with all components recording increases.

Poultry output expanded by 1.88 percent to P52.9 billion, accounting for 15.35 percent of total production. Fisheries grew by 0.73 percent to account for P55.7 billion or 14.15 percent of total output.

Rolando T. Dy, executive director of the Center for Food and AgriBusiness of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), said the latest figures were expected, and may continue throughout the year.

"The recovery from El Niño was expected," he said in a text message.

"So the 5.3-percent growth is good. It comprised 4.7 percent base effect, plus 0.6 percent upward trend. Given this trend, I expect good agri growth in 2017," he added.

On the back of El Niño phenomenon several typhoons in the latter part of the year, the agricultural sector registered a 1.41percent drop for the full-year 2016. — With Reuters/VDS, GMA News