Farm output contracts 3.8% in Q4

The country’s agricultural production decreased in the fourth quarter, dragging the full-2020 figure, on the impact of the natural and health calamities that struck last year, the government reported on Wednesday.

In its quarterly Performance of Philippine Agriculture report, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said volume-wise, production fell by 3.8 percent in the last three months — deeper than the 0.1 percent in the same period in 2019— but value-wise, rose by 5 percent year-on-year to P503.81 billion from P408.04 billion.

For the entire 2020, output dropped by only 1.2 percent, which Agriculture Secretary William Dar said showed the industry’s resilience.

“We believe that, despite the Taal Volcano eruption, Covid-19 pandemic, continued incidence of the African swine fever (ASF), and a series of strong typhoons, the country’s agriculture and fishery sector has remained pliant and resilient, facing head on and surmounting the huge challenges last year,” Dar said in a statement.

Crop production — which made up the bulk of total production at 57.9 percent — shrank by 0.4 percent in October to December, compared to last year’s 1-percent growth. Palay (unmilled rice) and corn output dipped by 1.4 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively, compared to their 4.7-percent and 8.2-percent expansion in 2019.

Livestock production, which has a 15.4-percent share to total output, contracted by 12.9 percent. Hog output dropped by 13.8 percent on the continued spread of ASF.

Poultry output, which accounted for 12.2 percent of the total, slimmed by 5.5 percent.
Fishery production, which has a 14.5-percent share, narrowed by 4.7 percent on the reduction in the harvest of major marine species, including sardines, yellowfin tuna, tiger prawn and tilapia, in the quarter.

In value terms, crops and livestock production jumped to P275.5 billion and P85.3 billion, respectively, while poultry and fisheries output declined to P69 billion and P74 billion, respectively.

The last three months saw farmgate prices of agricultural commodities increase, except fisheries and poultry, which fell by 2.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

The DA expects livestock and poultry output to decline because of the ASF outbreak in Central Luzon and low chicken demand, as restaurant operations were limited.

Dar said his department hoped fisheries growth “could pick up steam this year, as we embark on a massive aquaculture and mariculture development program, and enhanced partnership between commercial and municipal [fishermen] for joint-venture fishing operations.”

The DA expects rice and corn production to also grow this year, barring strong typhoons, as nearly P20 billion has been allocated for programs dedicated to them.

Source: ManilaTimes