Agriculture posted a 2.20 percent growth in the fourth quarter of 2017. Improvements in production were noted in the crops, livestock and poultry subsectors. On the other hand, the fisheries subsector recorded a decline in production during the same period. At current prices, gross value of agricultural production amounted to PhP500.4 billion, up by 9.27 percent from the previous year’s record. For the period January to December 2017, the sector’s gross output grew by 3.95 percent.

The crops subsector recorded a 2.66 percent increase in production in the fourth quarter of 2017. It contributed 51.20 percent to the total agricultural output. Palay production increased by 4.37 percent while that of corn declined by 5.73 percent. Increments were noted in the production of coconut, sugarcane, banana, pineapple, peanut, cassava, sweet potato, eggplant and rubber. The subsector’s gross earnings amounted to PhP289.3 billion. This was 7.05 percent higher compared to last year’s level. For the whole year of 2017, the crop subsector recorded a 6.69 percent growth in production.

The livestock subsector which shared 17.78 percent in the total agricultural production came up with a 1.84 percent output gain in the fourth quarter of 2017. Hog production, which was the major source of subsector’s growth, increased by 2.75 percent. The subsector grossed PhP85.5 billion at current prices, representing a 14.39 percent increase over last year’s record. On an annual basis, the subsector’s gross output was up by 1.12 percent in 2017.

Poultry production expanded by 4.73 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017. It accounted for 15.40 percent of the total agricultural output. Except for duck, all components of the subsector posted output gains. At current prices, the subsector grossed PhP59.3 billion, or 15.22 percent more than the previous year’s gross receipts. For the whole year of 2017, the gross output of the poultry subsector went up by 4.62 percent.

The fisheries subsector registered a 1.18 percent reduction in output in the fourth quarter of 2017. It contributed 15.63 percent to the total agricultural production. Lower production levels were noted for tiger prawn, roundscad and skipjack. The subsector’s gross earnings at current prices amounted to PhP66.3 billion, up by 7.80 percent from last year’s record. For the period January to December 2017, the subsector posted a 1.73 percent drop in production.

On the average, prices received by farmers increased by 6.91 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017. All subsectors registered price increments; crops at 4.28 percent, livestock at 12.33 percent, poultry at 10.01 percent and fisheries at 9.08 percent. On an annual basis, farmgate prices went up by an average of 4.97 percent in 2017.