Agri Output Down 3.3% in Q2 — PSA

The Philippines’ agriculture sector saw a 3.3% decline in production during the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to the adverse effects of the El Niño phenomenon on crop yields and the ongoing impact of African Swine Fever (ASF) on hog production.

Impact of Adverse Conditions:

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the total value of agriculture and fisheries production from April to June fell to P413.91 billion, down from P427.9 billion in the same period last year.

Despite these challenges, the Department of Agriculture (DA) highlighted the sector’s resilience, attributing this to strategic interventions aimed at mitigating the decline. The poultry and fishery subsectors showed notable growth, helping offset losses in other areas.

Subsector Performance:

• Poultry: The poultry subsector grew robustly by 8.7%, reaching a value of P70.15 billion.
• Fishery: The fisheries sector saw a 2.2% increase, totaling P60.40 billion.

These gains were crucial in counterbalancing the significant 8.6% drop in crop production, which represents 53.2% of the total agricultural value. Rice and corn outputs fell by 9.5% and 20.3%, respectively.

• Livestock: The livestock sector, which accounts for around 15.3% of total production, showed stability with only a slight 0.3% contraction, bringing its value to P63.33 billion. Swine production, despite ongoing ASF challenges, declined by a mere 0.2%.

Government Response:

In response to the El Niño-induced challenges, the DA has implemented several key initiatives to support the agricultural sector:

• Allocated P14.54 billion for Rice Farmers Financial Assistance, production support, farmer indemnification, and loan provisions.
• Earmarked P350 million for ASF vaccine procurement, pending FDA approval.
• Continued promotion of biosecurity measures to control the spread of ASF.

These measures aim to mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions and bolster the sector’s capacity to rebound.

Conclusion:

The DA emphasized its commitment to sustaining agricultural growth and stability despite external challenges. “The support measures are designed to enhance productivity and support farmers, demonstrating the DA’s commitment to sustaining agricultural growth and stability despite external challenges,” the department stated.