Agricultural output declined by 2.34 percent in the second quarter of 2016. The prolonged dry spell due to the El Niño phenomenon negatively affected the production of the crops and fisheries subsectors. These losses were not offset by the increases in livestock and poultry production. At current prices, gross value of production amounted to P379.1 billion which was 1.31 percent higher than last year’s level. In the first six (6) months of 2016, agriculture posted a 3.48 percent drop in production.

 

The crops subsector recorded a 4.97 percent decline in output. The subsector accounted for 48.31 percent of the total agricultural output. Production of palay and corn registered cuts of 6.10 percent and 10.0 percent, respectively. However, production gains were recorded by sugarcane, eggplant, mongo, abaca, and pineapple. The subsector grossed P204.9 billion at current prices or 1.97 percent higher than the previous year’s record. In the first half of the year, crop production went down by 6.80 percent.

 

The livestock subsector grew at 6.56 percent, contributing 17.66 percent to the total agricultural output. All components of the subsector posted increases. Hog, the major driver of growth, expanded at 7.41 percent. At current prices, the subsector grossed P63.9 billion, a 2.75 percent increase from last year’s earnings. In the first half of 2016, livestock production grew by 5.60 percent.

 

Production in the poultry subsector went up by 1.25 percent in the second quarter of 2016. It accounted for 15.72 percent of total agricultural production. Output gains were recorded for both chicken eggs and duck eggs while their corresponding meat production declined. The subsector’s gross earnings at current prices amounted to P50.0 billion, up by 8.01 percent from last year’s record. From January to June 2016, the subsector recorded a 1.12 percent growth in output.

 

The fisheries subsector posted a 5.90 percent reduction in output, accounting for 18.31 percent of the total agricultural output. Lower production was noted across fish species. Major gainers were milkfish and tiger prawn which grew by 1.57 percent and 7.65 percent, respectively. At current prices, the subsector grossed P60.2 billion, or 6.91 percent lower than the last year’s level. In the first half of 2016, the subsector recorded a 5.92 percent drop in production.

 

On the average, prices received by farmers increased by 3.74 percent in the second quarter of 2016. Average price increases were higher in the crops and poultry subsectors at 7.31 percent and 6.68 percent, respectively. The price declining trend was recorded in the livestock subsector at an average of 3.57 percent. The fisheries subsector came down with a 1.08 percent decrease in price. For the first six (6) months of 2016, farmgate prices went up by an average of 3.45 percent.