Typhoons trim farm output 1.4% in 2016

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s agricultural output declined 1.41 percent last year as strong typhoons pulled down crops and fisheries production.

In the fourth quarter of 2016 alone, agricultural production contracted 1.11 percent, according to the latest report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“The contraction of our agriculture performance was due to the series of natural calamities in our agri areas,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol told The STAR.

“We had consecutive natural calamities particularly in the fourth quarter. We had (typhoons) Karen and Lawin and the most recent was Nina in December,” he added.

Piñol had earlier projected the sector would grow by five percent in 2016.  He eventually downgraded his forecast due to the string of typhoons that hit the country.

The agricultural sector grossed P1.57 trillion, slightly higher than the P1.54 trillion recorded in 2015.

Crops, which accounted for bulk of total agricultural production, fell 3.32 percent with palay (unhusked rice) and corn harvest down three percent and four percent, respectively.

Palay production declined to 17.6 million metric tons (MT) while corn production slid to 7.2 million MT.

The PSA attribute the decline to reports of unrealized plantings in several areas and heavy rains during the planting periods.

Significant losses were also recorded in the production of garlic, onion, calamansi, rubber, mango and coconut.

At current prices, the crop sub-sector grossed P880.7 billion, up three percent year-on-year.

The fisheries sub-sector, which made up 14 percent of total farm output, declined 4.18 percent to settle at P229.5 billion. The drop was  due to reduced area harvested and drydocking activities coupled with the unfavorable weather.

On the other hand, livestock production, which comprised 16 percent of the aggregate output, increased 4.59 percent, faster than the 3.8 percent growth a year earlier.  Gross earnings rose 2.5 percent to P258.2 billion.

The significant increase was driven by the high demand and the expansion of commercial farms in most areas.

Poultry likewise increased 1.39 percent, representing 11 percent of the total agricultural output. Continuous demand, newly opened broiler farms, and increased number of contract growers contributed to the growth of this sub-sector.