HIGHLIGHTS

Agriculture posted a 1.50 percent growth during the first nine months of 2009. The combined gains in livestock, poultry and fisheries production contributed to the sector’s growth. Meanwhile, production of some high value commercial crops dropped, thus the negative growth rate noted in the crops subsector. The gross value of agricultural output amounted to P849.3 billion at current prices or 1.62 percent higher than last year’s level.

The crops subsector registered a 0.15 percent drop in output this year. In the case of palay and corn, some production gains were noted. Production of palay grew by 2.90 percent while that of corn inched up by 0.76 percent. The other gainers were coconut, tomato, banana, peanut, cassava and tobacco. Their corresponding production growth rates ranged from 2.24 percent to 12.25 percent. The subsector’s share in total agricultural output went down to 46.92 percent. Gross value of crop production was P450.0 billion at current prices. This was 1.77 percent lower than last year’s record.

The livestock subsector almost recovered from the 2008 slump as it grew by 1.95 percent this year. This was mainly due to hog production which posted a 2.22 percent increase this year. The subsector accounted for 12.36 percent of total agricultural output. At current prices, the subsector grossed P138.4 billion, which corresponded to a 4.89 percent increase during the period.

The poultry subsector registered a 3.46 percent output gain this year. Production of chicken and chicken eggs decreased by 3.21 percent and 6.33 percent, respectively. The subsector’s share in total agricultural output was 14.09 percent. The gross receipts of the subsector amounted to P100.3 billion pesos at current prices, up by 11.38 percent this year.

The fisheries subsector which shared 26.63 percent in total agricultural production, grew by 3.28 percent. Production in aquaculture expanded by 4.50 percent while that of commercial fisheries went up by 3.75 percent. Municipal fisheries managed to post a 0.21 percent output increment in 2009. The subsector grossed P160.6 billion at current prices or 3.18 percent more than the previous year’s level.

On the average, farmgate prices increased at a slower rate of 0.12 percent during the January to September 2009 period. The poultry subsector recorded the biggest price hike of 7.65 percent. In the livestock subsector, there was a 2.88 percent gain in prices. Meanwhile, average prices in the crops and fisheries subsector indicated decreases of 1.62 percent and 0.09 percent, respectively.