By Cielito M. Reganit
MANILA, May 15 (PNA) — The country’s agriculture sector grew by 1.78 percent in the first quarter of 2015, bannered by improved performances in the crops, livestock and poultry subsectors, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Friday.
However, the fisheries subsector posted a decline during the period.
The PSA said that at current prices, agriculture grossed Php 380.1 billion, lower by 1.65 percent than last year’s record.
The first quarter of 2015 saw the crops subsector expanding by 1.65 percent – sharing 54.30 percent in total agricultural production.
The total gross value of crop production amounted to Php 218.5 billion at current prices which was 3.26 percent lower compared to last year’s level.
Palay and corn production increased by 1.41 percent and 3.97 percent, respectively.
Output gains were also registered by banana, cassava, garlic and onion.
Meanwhile, the livestock subsector, which accounted for 15.66 percent of the total agricultural output, grew by 3.23 percent during the first quarter of 2015.
Except for goat, all components of the subsector registered output increments.
At current prices, the subsector grossed Php 59.2 billion, or 3.10 percent higher than the 2014 gross earnings.
The poultry subsector came up with a 5.42 percent increase in output and shared 14.98 percent in the total agricultural production.
In the first quarter of the year, all poultry components – chicken, duck meat and eggs – contributed to the subsector’s positive performance during the period.
At current prices, the subsector grossed Php 47.5 billion, representing a 4.69 percent increment over last year’s record.
On the other hand, the fisheries subsector, which contributed 15.06 percent to the total agricultural production, posted a 2.57 percent decline in output.
The major contributors to the negative growth were roundscad and skipjack with production losses of 19.45 percent and 7.03 percent, respectively.
However, production gains were recorded by tiger prawn at 1.85 percent and yellowfin tuna at 11.76 percent.
The fisheries subsector’s gross output was valued at Php54.9 billion or 5.04 percent lower than last year’s earnings.
The PSA said that on the average, farmgate prices were lower by 3.37 percent from the 2014 records.
All subsectors registered price decreases; these averaged 4.84 percent for crops, 0.12 percent for livestock, 0.69 percent for poultry and 2.54 percent for fisheries. (PNA)