Local farm output declined in the second quarter of the year due to a prolonged dry spell caused by El Niño, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

The PSA reported that the value of the country's agricultural production totaled P413.91 billion from April to June, a 3.3 percent decrease compared to P427.95 billion in the same period the previous year.

“This was due to the annual decreases in the values of crops and livestock production during the period. Meanwhile, values of poultry and fisheries production posted annual increments,” the PSA said in a statement.

This decline in the second quarter was more pronounced than the 1.2 percent decrease recorded in the same quarter of 2023.

The second quarter farm output brought the country’s first-semester agricultural productions to P843.53 billion, lower by 1.5 percent compared to P856.74 billion in the same period in 2023.

From April to June, crop production, the largest contributor to the farm sector's total value, decreased by 8.6 percent to P220.04 billion in the second quarter of 2024. 

According to the PSA, the decline was primarily driven by decreases in palay and corn output by 9.5 percent and 20.3 percent, respectively.

Livestock production also decreased slightly by 0.3 percent to P63.33 billion, representing 15.3 percent of the total agricultural and fisheries production value during the same period.

Hogs, a significant component of livestock production, recorded a marginal 0.2 percent year-on-year decrease, the PSA said.

In contrast, poultry output increased by 8.7 percent to P70.15 billion from the previous year and contributed 16.9 percent to the total farm sector value.

During the second quarter, all poultry commodities showed an increase in their production value.

Fisheries, valued at P60.40 billion, experienced a growth of 2.2 percent year-on-year, representing 14.6 percent of the total agricultural and fisheries production value in the second quarter of 2024.

Last week, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center of the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported a more severe impact of the El Niño phenomenon on the Philippines, with damages totaling P15.3 billion.

The latest estimates on agricultural losses caused by El Niño, which began in June 2023, increased 54.7 percent from the initial damage assessment of P9.89 billion reported by the agency on June 6.

El Niño, known for its below-average rainfall conditions, has adversely affected the livelihoods of 333,195 farmers and fishers spread across 15 regions in the country, according to DA.

These regions include Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.

DA reported a total of 784,344 metric tons of production has been lost over 270,855 hectares of agricultural land due to the impact of the ongoing El Niño conditions.