2011 farm output below estimates

MANILA, Philippines - The agriculture sector grew 2.34 percent in 2011, much lower than the revised three percent to 3.5 percent projected by the Department of Agriculture (DA) following the destruction caused by a series of devastating typhoons.

The crops subsector, which contributes almost 50 percent to total farm output, managed to post a growth of 4.82 percent.

Palay or unhusked rice production amounted to 16.68 million metric tons (MT), higher by 5.8 percent than the 15.77 million MT produced in 2010, but much lower than the target production of 17.3 million MT.

However, despite the lower production, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala stood firm in importing only 500,000 MT this year.

Bidding for the rice imports would be held next month, he said.

The government, Alcala said is projecting a palay production of 18.46 million MT this year and 20.04 million MT by 2013.

He remains confident that the Aquino administration remains on-track with its food staples sufficiency target by 2013.

Corn production in 2011 totaled 6.97 million MT, 9.3 percent higher than 6.38 million MT in 2010.

Sugarcane production in 2011 was registered at 28.38 million MT, 58.3 percent higher than 17.93 million MT in 2010.

Total gross value of crops reached P804 billion at current prices, 19.4 percent higher than in 2010.

The livestock sector, which contributes 16 percent to total agri growth , registered a growth of 1.99 percent,

The hog industry produced 1.94 million MT, 2.2 percent higher in 2011 than the 1.89 million MT in 2010.

Cattle and dairy production also rose 1.8 percent and 3.7 percent respectively.

The livestock subsector grossed P212.9 billion at current prices, a percent higher than in 2010.

The poultry subsector, which contributes 13.7% to agri output, grew 4.3 percent.

Chicken production rose by 4.5 percent, while chicken and egg production rose by 4.2 percent.

The total value of poultry products reached P1.58 billion at current prices, 4.8 percent higher than in 2010.

The fisheries sector, however, suffered a decline of 4.1 percent as commercial and municipal fish production dipped by 16.3 percent and 3.9 percent respectively.

Alcala attributed the continuing decline in the fisheries subsector to dwindling fish population brought about by overfishing, illegal fishing practices, and successive typhoons during the second semester of 2011.

The fisheries subsector grossed P225.1 billion, contributing 20.7 percent of total agricultural output.

Alcala added that the decline in the fisheries sector is also caused by the implementation by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources BFAR) of conservation policies such as the imposition of the no fishing season in selected areas during breeding season to allow fish stocks to regenerate.

Despite the decline in the fisheries sector, DA assistant secretary Salvador Salacup said farmers and fishers still enjoyed higher farm gate prices of produce and fishery products as buying prices rose 9 percent in 2011.

Farm gate prices of palay and corn rose 4.7 percent and 14.9 percent respectively, coconut by 53 percent, pineapple by 27 percent, coffee 21 percent, rubber 17 percent, abaca 11 percent, vegetables such as cabbage by 157 percent, onion 86 percent, and eggplant 72 percent.

Total farm production was valued at P1.4 trillion at current prices, 11.5 percent higher than in 2010.