by Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 10) The countrys agricultural production slowed down again in the first three months of 2021, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported.
Data from the agency published Monday revealed farm output fell by 3.3% year-on-year during the quarter, better than the 3.8% plunge in the final quarter of 2020 but worse than the 1.7% shrinkage in the same period last year.
Declines in production were recorded for livestock and poultry, while crops and fisheries posted increases in production during the period, wrote the PSA.
However, the value of farm production rose by 8.2% annually from January to March at 484.76 billion from 448.08 billion last year. Figures from the department showed average farmgate prices among the subsectors mostly rose during the period, with all livestock and poultry product costs moving up compared to the first quarter of 2020.
Livestock which accounts for 14.2% of total agricultural output is once again the hardest hit subsector, with production volume plunging by 23.2% during the period.
Hog production contracted by 25.8% as the industry continues to grapple with the impact of the African Swine Fever. Cattle output likewise posted a double-digit decline of 10.2%. Carabao livestock and dairy production fell as well by 7.4% and 6.7% respectively.
Poultry livestock dropped by 7.4% in the first quarter of 2021, accounting for 13.3% of aggregate farm production for the period. Chicken and duck egg output grew by 3% and 0.7%, respectively, but these failed to offset the -11.6% and -11.2% growths in duck and chicken livestock. In sum, the commodity group was valued at 69.05 billion during the quarter, higher by 10.6% annually.
Despite the output decline, the entire livestock subsector logged a production value of 82.09 billion, up by 10.8% from a year ago, because of higher farmgate prices in 2021.
Farmers, meanwhile, saw output expand by 3.3% during the quarter. Crop production is the biggest contributor to overall agricultural production during the period, supplying 58.8%. Coffee and cacao led the subsectors growth at 12.4% and 11.8%, respectively, followed by unmilled rice at 8.6% and corn at 6.5%.
However, production output for potatoes logged the steepest decline among crops in the first three months of 2021, posting -26.4% growth along with abaca (-15.3%) and onions (-13.7%).
The crop subsector, all in all, registered a value of 266.97 billion, also up by 7.2% yearly.
On the other hand, fisherfolk saw output rise slightly by 0.6% during the quarter. Fisheries comprised 13.7% of the agriculture sectors production within the said timeframe.
Mudcrabs, skipjack and slipmouth outputs spiked during the period with growths of 20.2%, 19% and 15.7% respectively. Production of bali sardinella (tamban), cavalla (talakitok), tilapia, big-eyed scad (matangbaka), milkfish and tiger prawns also increased.
Fimbriated sardines, on the other hand, led the decline among fishery output at 37.5%. Threadfin bream or bisugo followed suit at -18.7% and yellowfin tuna at -17.6%. An output decrease was also observed in roundscad (galunggong), squid, seaweed, Indian mackerel, bigeye tuna and blue crab.
The fishery subsector was valued at 66.64 billion during the quarter, 6.4% higher than the same period in 2020.
The Agriculture Department hopes to achieve a full-year growth of 2.5% for the agriculture sector this 2021.
