By Lilybeth Ison/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The output of the country’s agriculture sector recorded minimal growth at 0.67 percent in the first quarter of 2019, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Production increases were noted for livestock, poultry and fisheries during the period.
On the other hand, crops recorded a decrease in output.
For the crops’ subsector, PSA record shows that palay and corn production declined by 4.46 percent and 2.07 percent, respectively.
Production decreases were also noted among the major crops such as banana, pineapple, coffee, mango, tobacco, peanut, cassava, garlic, and rubber.
But for sugarcane, it posted a 36.25 percent increase in the gross value of production. This was attributed to improvement in production and better prices.
For the same reason, increments in the gross value of production were also noted for abaca at 4.44 percent, and sweet potato at 2.81 percent.
Price appreciation led to higher gross values of production for cassava by 20.27 percent, pineapple by 15.84 percent, banana by 6.81 percent, tobacco by 2.76 percent and peanut by 2.32 percent.
The gross value of “other crops” production was down by 13.62 percent during the reference quarter.
At current prices, the gross value of crops production at PHP235.4 billion was down by 6.41 percent this period.
On the other hand, livestock production posted a 1.25 percent increment. It contributed 17.11 percent to the total agricultural production.
Higher outputs were recorded for cattle, hog and dairy. The gross value of livestock production amounted to PHP75.4 billion at current prices.
Production of poultry also increased by 5.41 percent during the quarter. It shared 16.74 percent in the total agricultural output. All poultry commodities exhibited production gains. At current prices, the gross value of poultry production amounted to PHP55.4 billion.
Meanwhile, fisheries production also inched up by 0.97 percent contributing 13.45 percent to the total agricultural production. Roundscad and skipjack posted increments in production.
The gross value of fisheries production at current prices amounted to PHP63.5 billion.
On the average, PSA said, prices received by farmers decreased by 3.76 percent during the period. Lower prices were observed for crops at 5.46 percent, livestock at 1.49 percent and poultry at 8.60 percent.
Prices for fisheries went up by an average of 6.78 percent.
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