The Philippines’ agriculture fell by 1.5 percent during the second quarter of the year from 0.5 percent growth in the same period last year, pulled down by the lower production in livestock and fisheries, latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has projected a 2 percent growth target for 2020.
At current prices, the value of agricultural production went up by 7.2 percent to P503.3 billion during the period. From January to June, the value of agricultural production at constant 2018 prices contracted by 2.5 percent.
Still heavily affected by the continuous spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), livestock production, which contributed 14.2 percent in the total agricultural production, declined by 19.3 percent in the second quarter of 2021.
Hog production particularly fell by 26.2 percent, while dairy output erased 6.6 percent. At current prices, the value of livestock production, which amounted to P85.8 billion, was 18.6 percent higher than the previous year’s level.
But from January to June 2021, livestock production registered a 21.4 percent decrease.
Fisheries production, which shared 16.1 percent in the total agricultural production, also dropped by -1.1 percent this quarter.
Double-digit contractions were noted for yellowfin tuna (tambakol/bariles) at -34.9 percent, roundscad (galunggong) at -18.3 percent, threadfin bream (bisugo) at -17.1 percent, frigate tuna (tulingan) at -16.9 percent, fimbriated sardines (tunsoy) at -13.7 percent, skipjack (gulyasan) at -12.0 percent, and Bali sardinella (tamban) at -10.0 percent.
At current prices, the value of fisheries production amounted to P80.2 billion or 9.5 percent higher compared to the previous year’s same period record. From January to June 2021, fisheries production decreased by -0.5 percent.
Meanwhile, the production of crops and poultry posted increases during the period. In the second quarter of 2021, crop production went up by 3.1 percent. It shared 56.2 percent of the total agricultural production.
Uptrends in production were recorded for palay at 1.2 percent and corn at 6.3 percent. Double-digit increments were noted for sugarcane at 34.8 percent, potato at 24.8 percent, onion at 22.0 percent, and cabbage at 13.1 percent. Likewise, increases in production levels were exhibited for cacao at 9.9 percent, rubber at 5.9 percent, and pineapple at 4.6 percent.
At current prices, crop production was valued at P267.2 billion, an increase of 1.9 percent this quarter. For the first half of 2021, the production of crops was higher by 3.2 percent.
Poultry production increased by 2.5 percent during the period. It accounted for 13.5 percent of the total agricultural production.
Production growths were observed for duck at 38.4 percent, chicken eggs at 13.1 percent, and duck eggs at 1.8 percent. On the other hand, contraction in production was noted for chicken at negative 1.6 percent.
At current prices, the value of poultry production amounted to P70.1 billion, indicated a 13.9 percent expansion from the previous year’s same period record. In the first six months of 2021, poultry exhibited a production decline of 2.6 percent.