Philippine's Agriculture Sector Continues to Grow

The DA said the combined positive performance of the three subsectors served as a cushion, as the fishery subsector registered negative growth due to dwindling fish population caused by overfishing, illegal fishing practices, and successive typhoons during the second semester of 2011.

Total farm production was valued at P1.4 trillion at current prices, 11.5 per cent more than in 2010, it said.

The crops subsector — which contributed one-half or 49.6 per cent to total agricultural output — registered a 4.82 per cent increase, led by palay (paddy rice) and corn.

Likewise, palay harvest totaled 16.68 million metric tons (MMT), 5.8 per cent more than in 2010 (15.77 MMT), while corn production amounted to 6.97 MMT, 9.3 per cent more than in 2010 (6.38 MMT).

Sugarcane production also grew significantly to 28.38 MMT, 58.3 per cent more than in 2010 (17.93 MMT). Tobacco, pineapple and rubber also posted positive gains last year.

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