Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Wednesday that the agrifishery sector’s growth in the first quarter of the year suggests a recovery trajectory from last year’s adverse impacts, including the El Ni±o and La Ni±a phenomena, various weather disturbances, pests, and volcanic eruptions.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest data indicates a 1.9 percent increase or PHP437.74 million year-on-year growth in the agriculture and fisheries sector. This is an improvement from PHP429.62 billion recorded in the same period in 2024. The growth is attributed to several sectors, with crops rising by 1 percent to PHP249.61 billion, the poultry sector increasing by 9.4 percent to PHP75.22 billion, and fisheries growing by 1.5 percent to PHP55.10 billion.
Specifically, palay (rice) production experienced a 0.3 percent increase, resulting in an output of 4.7 million metric tons (MT), up from 4.69 MT last year. This was achieved alongside a record-high yield of 4.09 metric tons per hectare, the highest since 1987, as reported by the DA.
Tiu Laurel expressed optimism, stating, “We are optimistic that the recovery in the first quarter signals momentum for the latter half of the year, especially as we bring new infrastructure online, such as cold storage facilities and rice processing systems.” For the year 2025, the DA aims to achieve a record palay harvest of 20.46 million MT.
In light of the challenges faced by the livestock sector, particularly the 2.8 percent contraction in production due to African Swine Fever (ASF), Tiu Laurel emphasized the importance of the commercialization of AVAC live vaccines from Vietnam. He stated, “Hopefully, we could also begin later this year the commercial rollout of the long-awaited vaccine for African Swine Fever, which will help kickstart the DA’s large-scale hog repopulation effort.”
As of April 25, the number of barangays with active ASF cases has decreased to 47 across 23 cities and municipalities, down from 54 barangays in 28 cities and municipalities reported on April 11.
