Agricultural production in the second quarter drops by 3.3%

By means of Adrian H. Halili, News reporter

Agricultural production in the PHILIPPINES fell in the second quarter as the crop and livestock sectors continued to bear the brunt of the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows the value of agricultural production FThe economies at constant prices in 2018 contracted 3.3% to P413.91 billion from April to June, a deterioration from the 1.2% contraction a year earlier.

It was the first decline in agricultural production since the 0.2% decline in the third quarter of 2023, and the largest decline since the 3.4% contraction in the third quarter of 2023. Ffirst quarter of 2021.

“The decline was due to the decline in crop and livestock values. Meanwhile, expansions were recorded in the value of poultry and Fisherries production,” the PSA said.

The agricultural sector accounts for about a tenth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and provides about a quarter of all jobs.

The PSA is expected to release second-quarter GDP data on August 8.

For the Ffirst half, the value of agricultural production and FEconomies fell 1.5%, a reversal from 0.4% growth a year ago.

“The Philippine agricultural sector has shown resilience, supported by strategic interventions from the Department of Agriculture (DA), in the face of challenges posed by the negative impact of El Niño on crops and the persistent African Swine Fever (ASF) on the pig production. , especially during the second quarter,” Arnel V. de Mesa, deputy secretary and spokesperson for Agriculture, said Wednesday.

Crop production, which accounted for half of the agricultural sector’s total output, fell by 8.6% year-on-year in the second quarter. This was a reversal from the 1.2% growth a year ago.

Year-to-date crop production fell 4.4%, reversing the 1.5% growth recorded a year earlier.

In the second quarter, palay (paddy) production fell 9.5%, while maize production fell 20.3%.

Sugar cane (-42.3%), onion (-37.4%), tomato (-15.6%), mango (-14%) and abaca (-12.4%) also showed double-digit production declines.

Lower production was also observed in rubber (-7.5%), cassava (-7.2%), eggplant (-7%), sweet potato (-5.8%), ampalaya (-5.1%) , coconut (-4%), banana (-3.3%), mango (-2.8%), pineapple (-2.7%), tobacco (-1.9%), coffee (-1.87 %) and potato (-1%).

Only calamansi (6.4%), cocoa (5.9%) and cabbage (2.7%) showed production growth in the second quarter.

“These drops are the effects of El Niño during the Ffirst semester of the year. Crops, especially rice and corn, did not survive or suffered yield losses due to lack of water,” Raul Q. Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers, said in a Viber message.

The state weather bureau announced the onset of the El Niño weather event in June 2023, bringing subnormal rainfall conditions, dry spells and droughts. El Niño ended in early June, but dry conditions are expected to continue.

According to the latest Department of Agriculture bulletin, damage to farms due to El Niño amounted to P15.3 billion, with a total crop loss of 784,344 tons. Rice and corn were the most popularFinfected crops.

“(The DA’s) statement that the decline was due to delayed planting by some farmers does not seem realistic… So it was not a delay in planting, but an inability to plant due to lack of rain,” Mr Montemayor said.

However, Mr De Mesa said that the DA had supported the agricultural sector during El Niño, setting aside €14.54 billion for Ffinancial support for aFaffected farmers, production support and loans.

CATTLE FALL
Livestock production shrank 0.3% in the quarter ending in June, reversing growth of 0.7% a year ago. It accounted for 15.3% of total agricultural production in the period April to June.

Data from the PSA showed a decline in production value for goats (-2.7%), carabao (-2.4%) and pigs (-0.3%). Higher production was seen in dairy (9.7%) and cattle (0.2%).

In the January to June period, livestock farm values ​​fell 1.9%, a reversal of 2.4% growth in 2023.

Former Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a text message that the livestock industry, especially the swine sector, continues to be affected by ASF.

“The decrease of 0.3% (in pigs) is small. Most likely, the market weight of pigs is smaller due to the extreme heat, which affected feed intake and therefore feed conversion,” said Alfred Ng, vice chairman of the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. in a Viber message.

Pigs account for 12.4% of livestock production.

PROFIT IN POULTRY, FISHING
Poultry production, which accounts for 16.9% of total agricultural output, rose 8.7% from April to June, an improvement from 1.5% growth a year ago.

Higher production was seen for chicken eggs (9%), chicken (8.9%), duck (1.3%) and duck eggs (0.8%).

From January to June, the value of poultry production increased by 7.3%, compared to 2.3% a year ago.

Former Undersecretary of Agriculture Fermin D. Adriano said the growth in poultry production during the period was due to improved efforts by poultry farmers to control the spread of bird species. Flu.

“Poultry production can easily recover because there are now chicken breeds that can be harvested in less than a month. Old stock aFaffected by birds Flu can be easily replenished,” he said in a Viber message.

Mr Dar said the growth of the poultry sector was driven by the continued investments of major poultry companies, including small and medium-sized farmers.

In the meantime, FAgricultural production rose 2.2% in the second quarter, a reversal from the 13.8% decline a year ago. The subsector represented 14.6% of total agricultural production.

So far the value of FIrish output rose 1.1%, a reversal from last year’s 7.5% decline.

“Fishing came from a very low level, so it was relatively easy for the sector to show a revival. Perhaps the warm weather has led to increased phytoplankton production,” Mr Montemayor said.

Wins were seen in skipjack or gulyasan (141.2%), bigeye tuna (94.1%), yellowfin tuna (43.2%), frigate tuna or tulingan (33.7%), P. Vannamei (33.6%), blue crab (7.4%), fimbriated sardines (5.9%) and cavalla or talakitok (4%).

On the other hand, tiger shrimp production declined suggest (-40.3%), grouper or lapu-lapu (-34.8%), seaweed (-25.8%), slipmouth or juicejuice (-24.7%), large-eyed scad or matangbaka (-22.3%), mud crab or Alimango (-18.3%), round scad or galunggong (-13.6%), squid (-6.8%), tilapia (-6%), milkfish or bangus (-4.6%), wire bream or bisugo (-4.4%), and Bali sardinella or tamban (-0.1%).

Mr. Adriano noted that the open fishing season in Philippine waters, coupled with better weather, contributed to the increase in fisheries production.

The DA targets agricultural growth of 1-2% in 2024, taking into account eFconsequences of the El Niño and La Niña weather conditions.