February 3, 2014
Philippines'' 2014 farm sector growth expected to rise 3%
On expectations of sustained good performance of the livestock, poultry and fishery industries, the Philippines'' Department of Agriculture (DA) expects the country''s farm sector to post a growth of 3% this year.
DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said the country would continue to take advantage of the animal-disease-free status of the poultry and livestock industries.
"The livestock and poultry sectors continue to grow. Korea is opening its doors to us for chicken exports and we have begun shipping Peking duck to Japan," said Alcala.
Alcala said the fisheries subsector is expected to be one of the best performing agriculture subsector this year with the extended access given to the Philippines to tuna-rich Pocket 1 of the Pacific Ocean and the sustained exportation of vannamei shrimp.
The agriculture sector posted a growth of 1.15% in 2013, driven by gains in the livestock, poultry and fisheries subsectors.
Production in the livestock subsector in 2013 rose 1.75%, accounting for 16.23% of the total farm output for 2013. Growth was led by hog and cattle production. The subsector grossed PHP233.2 billion (US$5.1 billion), up 8.2% on-year.
Production in the poultry sector rose 4.20% in 2013, contributing 14.76% to total farm production for the year. Chicken production was the major source of growth for the subsector during the period, growing 5.01%. The poultry subsector grossed PHP174.2 billion (US$3.8 billion), up 4.31% from a year ago.
The fisheries subsector recovered from negative growth in 2012, with production expanding 1.23% in 2013. At current prices, the subsector grossed PHP239.1 billion (US$5.3 billion), up 2.78% on-year.
The livestock and poultry sectors remain free from bird flu and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that have affected neighbouring Asian countries.
Last year, the Philippines was granted extended fishing access to tuna-rich high seas pocket 1 of the Pacific Ocean until 2017 by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The Philippines would be allowed to operate 36 catcher vessels with a capacity not exceeding 250 tonnes in the high seas pocket for the duration of the extended access.
The Philippines resumed the exploration of vannamei (white shrimp) last year after recovering from diseases that plagued the industry more than 15 years ago closed opportunities to growers. Shrimp growers have been shipping vannamei to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, US and China amid strong demand.
In the crops subsector, palay production is expected to reach between 19.5 million tonnes to 20 million tonnes this year. Corn production this year would also be increased to support the feed requirements of the growing livestock subsector. Corn production in 2013 reached 7.4 million tonnes.