Agriculture registered a 3.30 percent growth in the first quarter of 2013. All subsectors recorded increases in production. An upward trend was noted in the crops subsector. Livestock and poultry production grew, but, at slower rates. The fisheries subsector recovered from last year’s negative growth and posted the highest growth rate among the subsectors. Agriculture grossed P352.5 billion at current prices. This represented a 3.33 percent increase from the last year’s record.
The crops subsector which accounted for 54.10 percent of total agricultural production generated 3.62 percent more output this year. The main contributors were palay and corn which came up with production increments of 4.45 percent and 11.43 percent, respectively. At current prices, the subsector grossed P192.4 billion, lower by 1.42 percent from its year ago level.
The livestock subsector grew by 0.32 percent. It shared 15.33 percent in the total agricultural production. Hog production inched up by 0.36 percent while carabao production declined. The gross value of livestock output amounted to P54.3 billion at current prices. This was 9.07 percent higher than last year’s level.
The poultry subsector which contributed 14.30 percent to total agricultural output grew by 2.84 percent. A slowdown in output growth was noted across all commodities. Chicken production increased by 3.28 percent. The subsector grossed P45.8 billion at current prices and registered 10.16 percent more earnings this year.
Fisheries production expanded by 5.60 percent. The subsector shared 16.27 percent in the total agricultural production. Tilapia, milkfish, and roundscad indicated output increases of 2.88 percent to 16.44 percent. At current prices, the subsector grossed P59.9 billion and this was 9.86 percent higher than last year’s level.
On the average, farmgate prices were up by 0.03 percent in the first quarter this year. The crops subsector recorded an average price decline of 4.86 percent. Price increments were bigger in the livestock subsector at 8.73 percent and in the poultry subsector at 7.12 percent. Prices in the fisheries subsector increased by an average of 4.04 percent.