Philippines farm output growth target under review amid El Nino

The Philippine Department of Agriculture is currently reviewing the farm production growth target for the year amid the effect of an El Nino-induced drought on the country's farmlands.

"This is something we need to discuss when the figures are in," Acting Secretary Bernie Fondevila said, referring to the country's growth target of 0.5%-3% for the year.

Another agriculture department official said earlier that El Nino-related losses to the sector may have already reached around PHP7billion (US$152 million) compared with the reported damage of PHP2.84 billion (US$62 million) as drier weather conditions parched farmlands, hurting rice and corn farming, the country's two most important crops.

Agriculture accounts for a fifth of the country's gross domestic product.