RP farm output declines on crop production cut
11/16/2009 | 05:19 PM
The Philippines’ farm output plunged by more than half as its cash crops – including pineapple, coffee, and abaca – posted a lower turnout during the third quarter this year.
Farm output grew 1.55 percent during the quarter, lower than the 3.23-percent rise in the same period last year as the crops sub-sector contracted 0.15 percent, a quarterly report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics said.
Reduced crop production was brought about by the cash crops subsector’s negative performance.
Paddy rice production reached 3.51 million metric tons (MTs) during the period, 1.5 percent lower than 3.467 million MT in 2008.
Corn recovered from slump after its output rose to 2.372 million MTs, 5.17 percent higher than 2.255 million MT.
Livestock and poultry production also expanded.
Livestock reached 9.73 million MTs, 1.06 percent higher than 9.628 million MT reported last year.
Poultry also grew, posting a 1.7 percent expansion to 9.73 million MTs from 9.628 million MT. However, growth was slower than last year’s 3.18-percent growth.
For the first time in several years, fisheries contracted by 0.14 percent in terms of output for the third quarter from 4.92 percent growth in 2008.
From 17.298 million MT in 2008, fisheries output declined to 17.275 million MT in the third quarter of 2009.
Meanwhile, for the January to September period, farm growth was slower at 1.5 percent compared to 4.16 percent during the same first three quarters of 2008.
Agriculture accounts for about a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product.
The government pared down farm output forecast for the year to 0.5 to 1.5 percent from four percent due to damages sustained by the sector from recent typhoons. - GMANews.TV
Farm output grew 1.55 percent during the quarter, lower than the 3.23-percent rise in the same period last year as the crops sub-sector contracted 0.15 percent, a quarterly report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics said.
Reduced crop production was brought about by the cash crops subsector’s negative performance.
Paddy rice production reached 3.51 million metric tons (MTs) during the period, 1.5 percent lower than 3.467 million MT in 2008.
Corn recovered from slump after its output rose to 2.372 million MTs, 5.17 percent higher than 2.255 million MT.
Livestock and poultry production also expanded.
Livestock reached 9.73 million MTs, 1.06 percent higher than 9.628 million MT reported last year.
Poultry also grew, posting a 1.7 percent expansion to 9.73 million MTs from 9.628 million MT. However, growth was slower than last year’s 3.18-percent growth.
For the first time in several years, fisheries contracted by 0.14 percent in terms of output for the third quarter from 4.92 percent growth in 2008.
From 17.298 million MT in 2008, fisheries output declined to 17.275 million MT in the third quarter of 2009.
Meanwhile, for the January to September period, farm growth was slower at 1.5 percent compared to 4.16 percent during the same first three quarters of 2008.
Agriculture accounts for about a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product.
The government pared down farm output forecast for the year to 0.5 to 1.5 percent from four percent due to damages sustained by the sector from recent typhoons. - GMANews.TV
