El Niño, Typhoon damage Agri output shrinks 4.5% in Q1

MANILA, Philippines - Agricultural production fell 4.53 percent in the first quarter, weighed down by the poor output of the crop and fisheries subsectors as a result of the prolonged dry spell and damage caused by Typhoons Lando and Nona.

In terms of current prices, output fell by 1.49 percent to P375.2 billion.

The crops subsector, which contributed 52.06 percent to the total agricultural output, contracted by 8.55 percent.

Production of palay and corn dropped 9.97 percent and 19.07 percent, respectively.

However,  gains were recorded in the production of cassava, tobacco, abaca, pineapple, coffee, sugarcane and mongo.

The subsector grossed P211.1 billion at current prices, representing a 3.5 percent decline from the previous year.

The fisheries subsector saw a 5.11 percent drop in output. It contributed 14.92 percent to the total agricultural output.

Lower production levels were noted for the major fish species. Gross earnings slid 5.43 percent to P51.9 billion.

The poultry subsector expanded by 7.77 percent while the livestock subsector, which accounted for 17.18 percent of total agricultural output, gained 4.66 percent.

Hog production increased 5.47 percent with gross earnings reaching P60 billion or an increase of 1.23 percent.

The poultry subsector, which represented a 15.85 percent share in the total agricultural production,  grew 1.01 percent. All components recorded output gains except for chicken.

At current prices, the subsector’s gross earnings amounted to P52.2 billion, up 8.85 percent year-on-year.