DAR projects 1.2% to 1.5% growth in farm yield this yr

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is hopeful that the country’s farm production this year would expand by an annualized rate of 1.2 percent driven by recovery of the livestock sector and higher crop yield.

Agriculture Undersecretary Mercedita A. Sombilla said they expect the full-year growth rate of the country’s agricultural output to settle between 1.2 percent and 1.5 percent.

Sombilla explained that weather conditions in the fourth quarter have been favorable to the crops sector since there has been no major typhoon in recent months.

“Our big problem really is the fertilizer and fuel,” Sombilla told reporters in an interview on Monday.

Sombilla was referring to runaway prices of fertilizer and fuel that have hampered local farmers from expanding their production.

The country’s agricultural output in the third quarter grew at 1.8 percent annual rate, snapping two straight quarters of contraction. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/11/09/ farm-output-ends-2-quarter-contraction-grows-1-8/)

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the growth was driven by higher value of crops, livestock and poultry production during the threemonth period, offsetting decline in fisheries production.

The increase in output came on the heels of two consecutive contractions in agricultural production: -0.3 percent in the first quarter and -0.6 percent in the second quarter.

The PSA said agricultural output from January to September increased by 0.3 percent on an annual basis to P1.267 trillion.