Typhoon, ASF cause agriculture sector to decline

“We believe that despite the Taal Volcano eruption, COVID-19 pandemic, continued incidence of the ASF, and a series of strong typhoons, the country’s agriculture sector has remained pliant and resilient, facing head on and surmounting the huge challenges last year,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.
AFP/File

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine agriculture sector declined by 1.2 percent in 2020 following the consecutive typhoons that hit the country and the still unresolved cases of African swine fever (ASF).

For the fourth quarter alone, the farm sector dipped 3.8 percent from just a measly 0.1 percent decrease in 2019 based on the latest report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“We believe that despite the Taal Volcano eruption, COVID-19 pandemic, continued incidence of the ASF, and a series of strong typhoons, the country’s agriculture sector has remained pliant and resilient, facing head on and surmounting the huge challenges last year,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

The sector managed to grow in the second and third quarters of 2020 at a time when most industries and economic sectors were reeling from the lockdowns and reduced activities.

However, the momentum was stalled following the consecutive typhoons in the last quarter that damaged more than P12 billion in produce.

Despite the negative performance, Dar is sticking to his 2.5 percent growth target for this year.

Agricultural economist and University of Asia and the Pacific professor Rolando Dy said the target is achievable, but the DA has to address a lot of issues.

“We are already feeling the effects of climate change especially with what happened last year with the typhoons. The DA has to address the productivity of palay, hybridization and mechanization,” Dy told The STAR.

“Hog industry remains difficult as no vaccine is still available. The supply chain in the poultry sector should be addressed,” he said.

Meanwhile, at current prices, the agricultural sector grossed P1.77 trillion, up three percent from 2019.

Crops, which accounted for the bulk of the total agricultural production, increased by 1.5 percent as palay (unhusked rice) went up 2.8 percent. Corn production rose by 1.8 percent.

Palay production increased to 19.29 million metric tons (MT) while corn production went up to 8.12 million MT.

The increase in palay production was expected as the Rice Tariffication Law continues to provide funds for rice farmers.

“Serving as the silver lining and big consolation was the crops sub-sector which posted a positive growth despite a string of strong typhoons that ravaged Luzon and parts of the Visayas,” Dar said.

Production gains were also noted in sugarcane, cacao, tobacco, coffee, sweet potato, onion and mango. However, there were declines in pineapple, rubber, banana, coconut, cassava and abaca.

At current prices, the crop sub-sector grossed P951.33 billion, up 7.5 percent year-on-year.

Livestock production, which comprised 15.4 percent of the aggregate output, plummeted by 7.4 percent amid the presence of ASF in the country. Gross earnings went down to P303.05 billion.

In particular, hog production declined by 6.7 percent. For the fourth quarter, it dipped by 14 percent as a result of the non-replacement of stocks and continuous reduction in the inventory of swine in most regions.

To perk up the hog industry, the DA will implement a twin program that entails stronger leadership of local government units to control the disease, coupled with a swine repopulation program where backyard and commercial raisers on ASF-free areas will be given incentives to go back into business.

Poultry also dropped 3.8 percent, representing 12.2 percent of the total agricultural output. Gross earnings in the sub-sector went down 1.45 percent to P242.46 billion.

“The recovery of the poultry industry is dependent on the reopening of hotels, restaurants and other institutions, job creation, purchasing power of consumers and income support from the government,” Dy said.

The fisheries sub-sector, which made up 14.5 percent of total farm output, shrank 1.2 percent to P273.41 billion.

“We hope that it could pick up steam this year as we embark on a massive aquaculture and mariculture development program and enhanced partnership between commercial and municipal fishers for joint venture fishing operations,” Dar said.

Agriculture contributes a 10th to the economy.

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