Farm output barely grows in 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Farm output last year managed to eke out a growth of 0.37 percent, lower than the 0.50 percent growth projection of the Department of Agriculture.

For the fourth quarter of 2009, agricultural production contracted by 2.43 percent due to the devastating effect of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng on the food producing areas of Northern and Central Luzon.

As a result, the minimal growth posted during the first three quarters of 2.27 percent, 0.67 percent and 1.6 percent, last year was almost wiped out.

In 2008, the adjusted full-year growth in agricultural output was 3.8 percent.

The fisheries sub-sector remained the lead gainer in 2009 with a 2.45-percent growth, along with poultry which posted a 1.82-percent growth and livestock, 1.24 percent.

According to Agriculture  Secretary Arthur Yap, “the gains of the first three quarters were cut by huge production losses during the fourth quarter of 2009.”

Data released yesterday by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), showed that at current prices, the gross value of agricultural production reached P1.2 trillion in 2009, representing a 2.18 percent increase compared to its 2008 record.

The expansion of 2.45 percent the fisheries sector, which accounts for 26.4 percent of the total agricultural output for the year, came from the 2.67 percent growth of commercial fisheries; aquaculture sub-sector growth of 2.89 percent and municipal fisheries growth of  1.14 percent.

BAS Director Romeo Recide reported that the poultry sub-sectors which growth by 1.82 percent, accounted for 14.33 percent of the total agricultural output for 2009.

Chicken production was up 1.53 percent, while the production of chicken eggs increased 5.04 percent.

The livestock sub-sector, which accounts for 12.47 percent of total agricultural output, recovered from its negative growth last year with a 1.24 percent expansion due to an increase in hog production of 1.16 percent.

Recide said the production of cattle and dairy registered gains of 2.49 percent  and 3.33 percent, respectively.

In 2009, the gross value of livestock production increased by 6.5 percent to P1.96 billion at current prices.

Recide said the crops sub-sector, which bore the brunt of the devastating effects of climate change, went down in terms of production by 1.42 percent.

Corn production was up by 1.53 percent, but palay output went down by 3.31 percent.

Coconut farms recorded a 2.20 percent gain in production, but sugarcane farms suffered a 10.77 percent drop in output this year.

Other gainers were banana, cassava, eggplant and tobacco.