Agriculture Q3 output down 5% led by crops, fisheries

Agricultural production declined 5% year-on-year in the third quarter due to the weak performance of crops and fisheries, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

According to the PSA, the value of production at constant 2018 prices declined to P389.42 billion from P408.94 billion a year earlier.

Crop production fell 9.3% while fisheries declined 8.5%. Livestock and poultry grew 1.1% and 4.9% respectively.

Crop output accounted for 50.8% of the overall value of production, coming in at P197.71 billion.
Posting record declines were palay or unmilled rice (minus 17.8%) and corn (minus 17.4%).

Livestock production was valued at P61.17 billion, accounting for 15.7% of overall output. The hog subsector grew 1.9%.

Poultry production grew to P79.67 billion, accounting for 20.5% of the total value of agricultural production.

Fisheries output decreased 8.5% to P50.86 billion, accounting for 13.1% of the overall value of production. —  Maria Mikaela H. Tormon