The fisheries sub-sector remains as Philippine agriculture’s lead gainer in 2009 with a 2.45 percent growth hike. Poultry and livestock both recovered by posting output increases during the same period, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported.
DA Secretary Arthur Yap noted that overall, the farm and fisheries sectors managed to grow by only 0.37 percent as the gains posted in the year’s first three quarters were not sustained. The sector incurred heavy losses during the October-December period.
Typhoons "Ondoy" and "Pepeng," 2009’s worst storms battered Metro Manila and the food-producing areas of Northern and Central Luzon in September and October 2009.
"The gains of the first three quarters were cut by huge production losses during the fourth quarter of 2009," claimed Yap. He cited the final annual growth report by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).
At current prices, the gross value of agricultural production reached P1.2 trillion in 2009, a 2.18 percent increase over its 2008 record.
The fisheries sector’s expansion of 2.45 percent represented 26.4 percent of the total agricultural output for 2009. Commercial fisheries expanded 2.67 percent, while aquaculture grew 2.89 percent and municipal fisheries, 1.14 percent.
According to BAS Director Romeo Recide, the poultry subsector had a 1.82 percent production increase, which accounted for 14.33 percent of the total agricultural output for 2009. Chicken output was up by 1.53 percent while the production of chicken eggs increased 5.04 percent.
The livestock sub-sector recovered from its negative growth last year with a 1.24 percent expansion owing to the increase in the production of hogs by 1.16 percent. The subsector’s share in the total agricultural output was 12.47 percent.
The production of cattle and dairy registered gains of 2.49 percent and 3.33 percent, respectively, according to Recide. In 2009, the gross value of livestock production increased by 6.5 percent to P1.96 billion at current prices.
Further, the crops subsector which bore the brunt of the devastating effects of climate change, went down in terms of production by 1.42 percent. Corn production was up by 1.53 percent, but palay output went down by 3.31 percent. Coconut farms recorded a 2.20 percent gain in production but sugarcane farms posted 10.77 percent less output in 2009. The other gainers are banana, cassava, eggplant and tobacco.
"To cope with the effects of climate change, the DA this year is retooling its budget to enable Philippine agriculture to meet the twin challenges of this phenomenon along with increasing global free trade," Yap pointed out.
The DA allocated 86 percent of its P47 billion budget to various support services, such as the provision of flatbed dryers, corn drying centrals, fishports, and storage warehouses for farm produce; market linkages; strengthening of regulatory and disease eradication capabilities; and the establishment of satellite-based remote sensing and geographic information systems.
Moreover, the DA is strengthening its statistics and forecasting capabilities; developing and distributing climate-ready crops seeds which are submergence, drought and disease tolerant; engineering climate change adapted infras-tructure for production and processing; more financing for agriculture through innovative weather-based insurance schemes; and dissemi-nating more information, knowledge and training in crops science and planting techniques.
Consistent with the government’s goal to attain rice sufficiency by 2013, the DA is allocating 36 percent of its total banner program budget to the Rice Program, while fisheries is programmed to absorb 32 percent of the budget for programs with a hefty P1 billion for aquaculture in 2010.
The DA is also shifting the imple-mentation of food security program dubbed FIELDS to high gear in 2010 as part of sustained government efforts to prepare Philippine agriculture for the twin challenges of climate change and the demands of global free trade.
The FIELDS program represents the six areas where government support are focused to attain food security and sufficiency. FIELDS stands for Fertilizers, Irrigation and other rural infrastructure like farm-to-market roads (FMRs), Extension services and education for farmers, Loans, Dryers and other postharvest facilities, and Seeds and other genetic materials.
The Fertilizer component of the program advocates balanced fertilization, and encourages farmers to practice this sustainable agriculture practice by providing them with organic fertilizers in 2010.
On the Irrigation and other infrastructure component, 16,358 hectares of new areas will be generated this coming year while 92,255 hectares will be rehabilitated, and 138,529 hectares restored to increase production and meet the demands of a growing population.
The DA will construct or rehabilitate 3,107 kilometers of farm-to-market roads to link production areas, fishports and fish landings to markets.
The Extension, R&D and capacity building will focus on reaching out to farmers in rice production areas with yields below the potential 3.8 metric tons per hectare.
The DA will also give priority to agriculture and fisheries biotechnology to spur increased produc-tivity and incomes and to develop a global niche market through our natural ingredients industry. In terms of exports, it is estimated to be valued at $1 billion by 2010. The Loans com-ponent will continue to provide credit assistance at low interest rates to farmers for the purchase of farm inputs and machineries. For 2010, the DA targets to assist some 305,445 individuals and 99 groups in accessing loans, guarantee, and insurance.
To reduce losses of agricultural commodities, 157 dryers will be constructed and dis-tributed this year, four (4) sites of postharvest processing plants and trading centers will be established, and 525 trading points or bagsakan centers and barangay bagsakans will be set up.
For the seeds and other genetic materials—the government will ensure access of farmers to quality seeds by 1) empowering them to produce their own seeds, or 2) assisting commercial seed growers through infrastructure support. /MP
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