DA keeps agri growth target at 3-5%

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is keeping its farm output target growth of three to five percent for the year on expectations of record palay harvest and return to positive growth of the fisheries sector.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that with the recent lifting of the closed season in Zamboanga Peninsula and Visayas Seas, the fisheries subsector is expected to register a flat growth within the quarter.

The fisheries sector , which accounted for 18 percent of the total farm production last year, suffered a 0.04 percent contraction as municipal fish production fell 3.9 percent with the closure of the high seas and the fishing ban implemented in Zamboanga Peninsula late in 2011 until the early part of 2012.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recently lifted the fishing ban on sardines and herring imposed in the Visayas Sea and Zamboanga Peninsula.

“Even within this quarter, we may have zero-zero growth in fisheries because of the increase in spawning areas of sardines and tamban,” said Alcala.

Alcala said that in line with the government’s conservation measures in fishing areas, the implementation of a closed season in Palawan waters is being studied to increase the population of round scad (galunggong).

“It has been determined that historically, Palawan has the largest population of galunggong in the country. We are just validating the spawning period to be used as guidance in the implementation of a closed season,” he said.

BFAR director Asis Perez said the closed season is likely to be implemented next year.  

The Philippines has also obtained extended tuna fishing access to Pocket 1 of the Pacific Ocean until February 2014 by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) on the condition that it would implement conservation measures.

The Philippines is also expected to produce 20.4 million metric tons of palay, up from 18.03 million produced in 2012.

The country aims to achieve rice self-sufficiency by the end of the year. Programmed importation for the year is placed at 187,000 metric tons which will serve as buffer stock.

Alcala has given assurance that rice importation for 2013 would only be made within the country’s international commitments.