Agriculture posted a 0.37 per cent growth in 2009, according to the Bureau of Statistics in the Philippines. The year-on-year gains in the first three quarters of the year did not offset the huge production losses incurred during the fourth quarter of the year. Except for crops, all the sub-sectors managed to post some output increments. At current prices, agriculture grossed 1.2 trillion pesos (PHP), representing a 2.18 per cent increase from the 2008 level.
The livestock sub-sector recovered from the previous year's downturn and managed to grow by 1.24 per cent during the year. Its share in total agricultural production was 12.47 per cent.
The fisheries sub-sector expanded by 2.45 per cent during the reference year. The sub-sector accounted for 26.40 per cent of total agricultural output. Commercial fisheries produced 2.67 per cent more output this year. Production in aquaculture and municipal fisheries slowed down as a result of damage caused by weather disturbances during the fourth quarter of 2009. Their respective growth rates were 2.89 per cent and 1.14 per cent. The gross value of fisheries production was PHP215.6 billion at current prices, down by 0.08 per cent from the 2008 record.
Hog production recovered from last year's slump and grew by 1.16 per cent.
Outputs in cattle and dairy farms went up by 2.49 per cent and 3.33 per cent, respectively. Gross value of livestock production was PHP196.0 billion at current prices, indicating a 6.50 per cent increase from the 2008 record.
The poultry sub-sector came up with a 1.82 per cent increase in production last year. It represented 14.33 per cent of total agricultural output in 2009. Chicken production went up by 1.53 per cent. Chicken egg also put up a 5.04 per cent production gain during the period. Both duck meat and duck eggs posted production declines. The sub-sector grossed PHP144.3 billion at current prices or 9.97 per cent higher than the previous year's record.
On the average, farmgate prices went up by 1.81 per cent this year. Except for fisheries, all sub-sectors registered price increases. The poultry sub-sector posted the highest price increment of 8.01 per cent. This was followed by the livestock sub-sector where prices went up by an average of 5.20 per cent. Prices of agricultural crops were quoted 1.52 per cent higher during the period. Meanwhile, prices of fishery products were lower by 2.46 per cent from last year's levels.
Philippines Agriculture 2009
PHILIPPINES - The report Performance of Philippine Agriculture January-December 2009, suggests that adverse weather caused a fall in the value of fisheries production from the 2008 level.
