Philippine farm output growth likely at lower end of target

The Philippines could still eke out slight growth in agricultural production in 2009 despite the devastation to the sector from recent typhoons, a senior government official said Wednesday.

"We're looking at the lower end of the target because the market is still consolidating the amount of damage," Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap told reporters on the sidelines of an investment forum.

The agriculture department has downgraded to a range of 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent the growth target for this year from three percent after typhoons Ketsana and Parma hit the country in September and October.

Yap said a strong recovery in crop production, which accounts for half of farm output, is likely in the first quarter but raised doubt over whether the government could meet its goal of rice self-sufficiency by 2013.