Agriculture bounces back from El Niño

Philippine agriculture registered a 6.5 percent increase in production last year, with constant prices going up to P243.098 billion in 1999 from P228.27 billion in 1998.

Crops posted a 10.34 percent increase from P114.7 billion to P126.6 billion. Palay output reached 11.78 million metric tons in 1999 as compared to 8.554 million tons in 1998. It was also higher than the 1997 production of 11.268 million tons.

The rise in palay output was attributed to the 26.2 percent expansion in harvests and 9.3 percent increase in yield. These were due to improved irrigation facilities, availability of good seed materials, and improved usage of inputs.

Corn production went up 19.92 percent, from 3.8 million tons in 1998 to 4.58 million tons in 1999, as compared to 4.33 million tons in 1997.

Sugar output also increased, from 17.33 million tons in 1998 to 22.29 million tons in 1999, which was better than the 1997 figure of 20.99 million tons.

The livestock sector registered increased hog production at 4.27 percent, while cattle and carabao rose by four percent and 5.22 percent, respectively.

Chicken production also went up, from 919,450 tons in 1998 to 929,160 tons in 1999, a rise of 1.06 percent.

The fisheries sector, along with the commercial, municipal and aquaculture subsectors, posted increases of 1.34 percent, 4.41 percent, and 2.54 percent.

Last year's output of major crops was better than in 1997 when the El Niño and La Niña phenomena alternately affected agricultural production.

However, coconut production suffered a three-year slump, starting with 13.18 million tons in 1997, followed by 11.59 million tons in 1998, and 10.5 million tons last year.