June 20, 2006

 

Philippines farm output for first half 2006 expected to grow 4.5 percent

 

 

Farm output in the Philippines is expected to grow 4.5 percent to 5 percent in the first half of the year due to bumper crops and gains in the fishery and livestock sectors, the country's department of agriculture said.

 

Crop production may expand by 7 percent to 7.5 percent during this period, based on preliminary data. Corn production is expected to grow by 31.5 percent, Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban said.

 

Agriculture grew 1.3 percent in the first six months last year and 2.2 percent for 2005.

 

Livestock production this year was expected to expand 2 percent to 2.5 percent with fisheries growing 5 percent to 5.5 percent, Pangilinan said.

 

However, poultry output is expected to decline by 1 percent.

 

Survey-based forecasts by the agriculture department show that corn output in the first three quarters of the year would grow 13.8 percent.

 

The department said that about 51 percent of standing crop was at the vegetative stage, 23 percent and 26 percent were at reproductive and maturing stages, respectively.

 

During the first quarter, the agriculture sector grew 3.94 percent compared to the 0.54 percent growth posted year-on-year. The crops subsector grew 6.3 percent from a negative 3.3 percent a year ago while livestock grew 2.15 percent.

 

Poultry output however, fell 3.72 percent as export opportunities were limited.

 

Farmgate prices, meanwhile, went up 6.76 percent during the first quarter from 6.20 percent year-on-year.

 

Overall farm growth in the first quarter came largely from an improvement in the production of rice and corn, the country¡¯s two major staples, which grew 6.91 percent and 2.08 percent, respectively.