Agriculture posted a 1.2 percent decline in the first quarter of 2020 with crops and fisheries contributing to the contraction for the quarter. However, livestock and poultry both recorded increases in production.

Crop production, which accounted for 54.9 percent of the total agricultural output, decreased by 2.1 percent during the quarter. Palay and corn production went down by 3.6 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively.

Livestock inched up by 0.5 percent in output this quarter. It shared 17.9 percent to the total agricultural production. Hog production grew by 0.7 percent.

Production of poultry was 3.9 percent higher in the first three (3) months of 2020. It contributed 14.3 percent to the total agricultural output. All poultry commodities posted production increases during the quarter.

Fisheries, which contributed 12.8 percent to the total agricultural production, dropped by 5.2 percent during the first quarter of 2020. Most of the major species recorded lower production levels.

At current prices, the value of agricultural production amounted to PhP 441.2 billion, up by 3.4 percent from the previous year’s level.

(Sgd) CLAIRE DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General