CROP LOSS A farmer crops rice in Balagtas, Bulacan. Successive typhoons that hit crop-production areas contributed to the decline in complete agricultural output in 2024. —inquirer file picture
MANILA, Philippines — The El Niño phenomenon, spate of typhoons and the prevalence of animal illnesses mixed to convey down the output of the nation’s agriculture sector by 2.2 p.c in 2024.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that within the fourth quarter of final 12 months alone, the worth of agriculture and fisheries manufacturing declined to P483.58 billion from P494.25 billion in the identical interval the earlier 12 months.
This marked the third straight quarter of contraction in 2024 following a meager improve within the first quarter of final 12 months, resulting in the general 2.2-percent decline within the important sector’s output in 2024.
READ: Native agriculture sector upbeat even within the aftermath of ‘excellent storm’
Over the previous six years, the agriculture sector posted annual manufacturing declines besides in 2023, when it managed to eke out a slim achieve.
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In 2019, output dipped by 0.25 p.c; in 2020, 1.2 p.c; 2021, 1.7 p.c after which 0.1 p.c in 2022.
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Final 12 months, the crops sector, which accounted for 55.7 p.c of general output, posted a hefty decline of 4.2 p.c.
The livestock sector, which contributed 14.6 p.c, additionally noticed its output decline by a barely larger 4.3 p.c final 12 months. Fisheries, in the meantime, was down 1.1 p.c.
Solely the poultry sector yielded a notable output improve final 12 months of 6.6 p.c.
Crop injury
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa primarily attributed the efficiency of the agriculture sector final 12 months to the substantial injury brought on by pure calamities and the El Niño climate phenomenon that’s characterised by hotter temperatures and decreased rainfall.
“The first motive is the injury [sustained by the sector] from El Niño, collection of typhoons, La Niña … pests and illnesses, volcanic eruption and different climate techniques,” stated De Mesa, additionally the spokesperson for the Division of Agriculture (DA).
The farm sector alone suffered P57.78 billion in injury in 2024, surging by 136.4 p.c from P24.44 billion a 12 months prior, primarily based on knowledge from the DA’s Catastrophe Threat Discount and Administration Operations Middle.
“If I take a look at the info, this is likely one of the greatest losses recorded within the sector,” De Mesa stated. “This is likely one of the greatest damages recorded for a given 12 months in our sector.”
This affected greater than 1.4 million farmers and fishers nationwide final 12 months.
The amount of manufacturing loss was pegged at 2.19 million metric tons overlaying nearly 1 million hectares.
Of the entire injury, El Niño, characterised by dry climate and decreased rainfall, was blamed for P15.66 billion in manufacturing loss or 27.1 p.c of the entire injury.
The mixed results of Extreme Tropical Storm “Kristine” and Hurricane “Leon,” however, worn out P13.47 billion price of native produce. Moreover, Typhoons “Nika,” “Ofel” and “Pepito” precipitated P9.9 billion in injury.
Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) Nationwide Supervisor Raul Montemayor instructed the Inquirer that the decline in manufacturing output was anticipated given the calamities and animal illnesses.
“But it surely factors additionally to the dearth of resiliency of the sector. Sluggish progress throughout regular instances. However susceptible when calamities and disturbances come up,” Montemayor stated.
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FFF board chair Leonardo Montemayor added that he was “very upset and apprehensive as a result of it means farmers’ incomes possible declined and rural poverty incidence elevated.” INQ