MANILA — The country’s agricultural output declined slightly by 0.83 percent in the third quarter of 2018 mainly due to decreases in the output of the crops and fisheries subsectors.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday that the crops subsector, which shared 45.58 percent in the total agricultural output, recorded a 3.64-percent decline in July to September on lower palay and corn production.
It said output gains were recorded by coconut, sugarcane, banana, pineapple, coffee, mango, tobacco, abaca, tomato, and rubber.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol attributed the lower agricultural production to the impact of climate-related disturbances that affected the country during the period.
“(There were) four ‘habagats’, (and typhoons) Ompong and Rosita,” he said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Piñol said six to eight more weather disturbances are expected before the current year ends.
He thus cited climate change as the biggest challenge to agriculture, especially the crops sector.
“The DA, in coordination with the LGUs (local government units) and other agencies, will have to review the planting calendar, while fisheries will have to focus more (on) aqua and mariculture,” he added.
The PSA said production in the fisheries subsector, with a share of 17.08 percent in the total agricultural output, declined by 2.64 percent in the third quarter.
Output of milkfish, tiger prawn, round scad, and yellowfin tuna went down; while tilapia, skipjack and seaweed posted output gains.
It said production in the livestock and poultry subsectors, however, grew by 2.15 percent and 5.45 percent, respectively.
The statistics agency further said at current prices, the gross value of agricultural production rose by 6.82 percent to PHP409 billion in July to September.
The sector also posted a 0.15-percent increase in output in the first three quarters of the year.
On the average, prices received by farmers went up by 7.71 percent, it added. (Leslie Gatpolintan/PNA)
