Philippine Farm Output Recovers in Q2, PSA Reports

MANILA, Philippines — Agricultural output bounced back in the second quarter after an early-year dip, growing by 2.9 percent to P452.22 billion on stronger crop, poultry, livestock and fisheries production, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. In a report on Thursday, the PSA said that the production value of crops increased by 1.6 percent year-on-year to P248.9 billion, accounting for 55 percent of total agriculture and fisheries production. Palay and corn output likewise grew 5.7 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively. Livestock value reached P61.83 billion in the second quarter, up 3.6 percent and contributing 13.7 percent of the total value during the period. For poultry, production value jumped 6.3 percent to P79.84 billion, accounting for 17.7 percent of the total, while hog production value grew 5.6 percent. Fisheries, meanwhile, rose 2.6 percent to P61.64 billion, or 13.6 percent of the total. /pai INQ