MANILA, Philippines - Growth in the agriculture sector slowed down in the first quarter of the year, reflecting the lingering effects of the destructive storms that visited the country last year.
The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) yesterday reported that the farm sector grew 0.67 percent in the first three months of the year, slower than the revised growth rate of 3.11 percent in the same period last year.
Gross earnings in the sector, however, rose 10.75 percent to P386.6 billion in the first quarter of year from the same period last year as farmers continue to enjoy high farmgate prices.
On the average, farmgate prices rose 10.1 percent from January to March this year from the same period last year. Prices in the crops subsector rose 15.81 percent, those in the livestock and poultry subsectors rose 4.34 percent and 3.90 percent, respectively, while prices in the fisheries subsector rose 0.62 percent.
On the production side, output increases were seen in the crops, livestock and poultry subsectors while a contraction was seen in the fisheries subsector.
The crops subsector grew 1.53 percent, slower than the growth rate of 3.13 in the comparative period. Palay (unhusk rice) production rose 3.28 percent, while production of corn rose 1.33 percent. Increases were also seen in the production of sugarcane, pineapple, cassava and onion. The sector grossed P225.8 billion, up 17.58 percent from last year.
Damages caused by Typhoons Santi, Vinta and Yolanda last year are still felt in some components of the subsector, particularly in the coconut industry where production fell 6.10 percent in the first quarter.
Still reeling from the effects of typhoon Yolanda are coconut plantations in eastern and western Visayas, Quezon, Masbate, Romblon and Surigao del Norte.
Production in the livestock sector rose 1.20 percent, faster than the growth rate of 0.34 percent in the first quarter of 2013. The hog industry, which expanded 1.25 percent, continued to be a major growth driver in the sector.
BAS noted the “significant†increase in demand for pork from industrial areas in Bataan, Metro Manila and Bicol region.
Production also increased in other components of the livestock sector. The subsector grossed P54.7 billion at current prices, up 5.58 percent from last year.
The poultry subsector grew 1.33 percent in the first three months of the year driven by production gains in chicken and duck raising. The subsector grossed at P45.7 billion, up 5.29 percent from last year.
Production of native and broiler types of chicken rose in Davao on increased processing. In South Cotabato and Sarangani, high demand for chicken resulted to increased stocking in commercial broiler farms.