The value of farm production in the third quarter declined 0.3 percent year-on-year, hurt by lower output of crops and fish, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Wednesday.
The value of production in agriculture and fisheries slipped to P412.41 billion.
Crop production, which accounted for 54 percent of total value, declined 0.4 percent to P222.69 billion despite 0.2 percent increase in palay and 5.0 percent in corn. Meantime, fisheries production valued decreased 6.1 percent to P58.72 billion on sharp drop in the output of tiger prawns and bigeye tuna. Fisheries accounted for one-sixth of agriculture output.
Contractions in the value of crop and fisheries production was partly offset by the 2.5 percent increase in the value of livestock production at P66.11 billion . Hog production recorded a 3.3 percent improvement despite the lingering concerns over the African Swine Flu.
Poultry production value rose 2.9 percent to P64.89 billion. Except for duck eggs, all poultry commodities posted increments in the value of production.
At current prices, the value of production in agriculture and fisheries amounted to P522.58 billion, higher by 4.3 percent.
