Philippine agriculture grows slightly in Q3

Philippine agriculture grows slightly in Q3

Philippine agriculture posted a 1.5 percent growth year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2009, with livestock, poultry and fisheries subsectors as the top growth drivers for this period, Department of Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap said on Monday (Nov 16).

In terms of gross value, the agricultural output amounted to PHP849.3 billion at current prices or 1.62-percent higher than last year''s level. Production of some high-value commercial crops dropped, thus the negative growth rate noted in the crops subsector.

The crops subsector, which accounted for 46.92 percent of total agricultural production, recorded a 0.15 percent drop during the period. The adverse impact of recent typhoons was indicated by the slower growth rate of rice production.

Total output at 10.90 million tonnes was 2.9-percent higher than last year''s record indicated by sufficient water from irrigation system and also increased area planted.

Gross value of crop production was PHP450 billion at current prices. This was 1.77-percent lower than last year''s record.

The livestock subsector almost recovered from 2008 slump as it grew by 1.95 percent level. The growth was mainly due to hog production, which posted a 2.22-percent increase this year.

The subsector accounted for 12.36 percent of total agricultural output. At current prices, the subsector grossed PHP138.4 billion, a 4.89-percent increase during the period.

The poultry subsector posted a 3.46-percent increase output gain this year. Chicken and chicken eggs production was down 3.21 percent and 6.33 percent, respectively.

Expansion in the broiler production were slower in Central Luzon, South Tagalog province, Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao. The slowdown in broiler production in the third quarter resulted in a tight supply of day old chicks during the period.

In terms of gross receipt, the subsector amounted to PHP100.3 billion at current prices, up by 11.38 percent this year.

The fisheries subsector, which shred 26.63 percent in total agricultural output, grew by 3.28 percent. Aquaculture production expanded 4.5 percent while commercial fisheries went up 3.75 percent. The subsector grossed PHP160.6 billion at current prices or 3.18-percent more than the previous year''s level.

On the average, farmgate prices increased at a slower rate of 0.12 percent during the January-September period. The poultry subsector recorded the biggest price hike of 7.65 percent. In the livestock subsector, there was a 2.88-percent gain in prices.

Meanwhile, average prices in the crops and fisheries subsector indicated decreases of 1.62 percent and 0.09 percent, respectively.

US$1 = PHP46.62 (Nov 17)