MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine agriculture and fisheries sector saw a marginal decline in the first quarter of 2026, as significant contractions in the crop and fisheries subsectors outweighed robust gains in livestock and poultry.
Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on May 6, 2026, showed that the total value of production at constant 2018 prices slipped to ₱437.52 billion, a 0.3 percent decrease from the ₱438.65 billion recorded in the same period last year. This performance is a reversal of the 2.1 percent growth seen in Q1 2025.
The overall dip was largely driven by a slump in the country’s staple crops and primary marine products, even as the “animal protein” sectors provided a necessary cushion.
| Subsector | Value (Q1 2026) | Growth Rate | Key Drivers / Notes |
| Crops | ₱243.62B | -2.4% | Dragged by a 6.3% drop in palay (unmilled rice) and a 5.5% drop in corn. |
| Fisheries | ₱52.34B | -6.1% | The steepest decline; 15 fish species saw production drops. |
| Livestock | ₱60.74B | +5.1% | Led by a 6.4% increase in hog production, signaling recovery from ASF. |
| Poultry | ₱80.83B | +7.1% | The top performer; all poultry commodities recorded growth. |
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and industry analysts pointed to a confluence of environmental and economic challenges that “squeezed” the sector early in the year:
- Lingering Weather Impact: The 2.4 percent drop in crop production was attributed to the residual effects of late-2025 typhoons, which damaged critical irrigation systems in areas like Nueva Ecija.
- Depressed Farm-gate Prices: In late 2025, a surge in rice imports led to a drastic drop in local prices. This discouraged many farmers from planting a full crop for the Q1 2026 harvest season.
- Structural Challenges: The 6.1 percent decline in fisheries was linked to persistent environmental issues and higher fuel costs for small-scale fisherfolk.
- Input Inflation: While the Middle East conflict’s full impact hasn’t yet hit, rising costs for petroleum-based fertilizers and transport fuel began to weigh on farm operations toward the end of the quarter.
Despite the weak start, Secretary Tiu Laurel expressed confidence in a second-quarter rebound. The Department of Agriculture expects rice production to normalize as planting conditions improve and government interventions—including seed and fertilizer distributions—take full effect.
However, the sector remains on high alert due to the potential onset of an El Niño-induced drought and the continued volatility of global oil prices, which could affect production costs in the second half of 2026.
