DA chief targets 3-4% agri output up to 2022

MANILA -- Newly appointed Agriculture Secretary William Dar is targeting a 3-4 percent growth in the farming sector until 2022.

This comes amid a decline in agricultural output in the second quarter of the year, which was recorded at -1.27 percent, as compared to 0.12 percent in the same period last year, according to the data released Wednesday by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

This, in turn, was attributed to the decline in crops production. Increases, however, were recorded for livestock, poultry, and fisheries.

At current prices, the value of agricultural production amounted to PHP424.6 billion, which is 5.20 percent lower than the previous year’s level.

In the first six months of 2019, agricultural output went down by 0.24 percent.

Crops registered a 5.70 percent drop in production during the second quarter of 2019. It contributed 47.42 percent to the total agricultural output.

Palay and corn recorded decreases in production by 5.82 percent and 8.73 percent, respectively. Output increases were noted for onion, garlic, mango, tobacco, rubber, eggplant, pineapple and abaca.

At current prices, the value of crops production amounted to PHP215.5 billion or 11.09 percent lower this period. From January to June 2019, a 3.16 percent reduction in crops production was recorded.

On the other hand, livestock production, which shared 17.41 percent in the total agricultural output increased by 3.22 percent in the second quarter of the year.

Hog and dairy came up with output gains during the period. The value of livestock production amounted to PHP77.7 billion at current prices, indicating a 1.96 percent decrease this quarter. In the first half of 2019, livestock production grew by 2.24 percent.