Agriculture posted a 2.98 percent growth in the third quarter of 2016. Output increments were noted in the crops, livestock and poultry subsectors.

At current prices, gross value of agricultural production amounted to P360.9 billion, higher by 7.33 percent than last year’s record. For the period January to September 2016, agricultural output dropped by 1.53 percent.

The crops subsector grew by 5.24 percent in the third quarter of 2016. It accounted for 45.63 percent of total agricultural output. Production of palay and corn increased by 16.35 percent and 10.61 percent, respectively. Improvements in production were also recorded for pineapple, tobacco, abaca, mongo, cassava, tomato, cabbage and eggplant. At current prices, the subsector grossed P196.9 billion or 13.78 percent more than the previous year’s gross receipts. For the first nine (9) months of 2016, crop production decreased by 3.60 percent.

The livestock subsector which shared 18.61 percent in the total agricultural output came up with a 3.89 percent growth during the reference quarter. Hog, the major contributor to the subsector’s production, registered a 4.55 percent increment. The gross value of output amounted to P59.8 billion,representing an increase of 2.29 percent from last year’s record. From January to September 2016, the subsector’s output increased by 5.04 percent.

The poultry subsector registered a 2.43 percent growth in output for the period July to September 2016. It contributed 17.15 percent to the total agricultural production. Except for duck, all components of the subsector recorded gains in production. The subsector grossed P49.2 billion at current prices. This was 3.61 percent higher than last year’s record. For the first nine (9) months of 2016, poultry production grew by 1.53 percent.

The fisheries subsector contracted by 2.53 percent in the third quarter of 2016. It shared 18.61 percent in the total agricultural output. Major gainers were milkfish and skipjack with production increases at 3.88 percent and 10.29 percent, respectively. At current prices, the subsector grossed P55.1 billionor 3.94 percent lower than last year’s earnings. From January to September 2016, the subsector posted a 4.59 percent drop in production.

On the average, prices received by farmers went up by 4.22 percent in the third quarter of 2016. Price increases were recorded by crops subsector at 8.12 percent and poultry subsector at 1.15 percent. On the other hand, prices in the livestock and fisheries subsectors went down by 1.54 percent and 1.45 percent, respectively. From January to September 2016, farmgate prices increased by an average of 3.72 percent compared to the 2015 record.