Agriculture output will likely post a full-year contraction amid challenges, Department of Agriculture assistant secretary Arnel de Mesa said Tuesday.
“Meeting the year’s production targets will be difficult,” de Mesa said, citing adverse weather conditions, animal diseases and longstanding structural challenges as key obstacles.
Agricultural output declined by an average of 2.1 percent in the first three quarters of 2024, with first-quarter growth of 0.5 percent, overshadowed by contractions of 3.3 percent and 2.7 percent in the second and third quarters, respectively.
The trend reflected persistent challenges, including extreme weather events and structural issues in the sector.
The crop subsector, particularly rice and corn, remained a primary driver of agricultural output. However, intensified storm activity in October and November significantly disrupted production, compounding losses.
De Mesa described the outlook for the fourth quarter as “tight,” with storm-related losses likely to prevent significant recovery.
The government expressed hope for a better economic performance overall in the fourth quarter due to consumer spending and recovery efforts in storm-hit areas, but agriculture is expected to remain a drag on growth.
The Philippine Statistics Authority is set to release the final year-end figures in early 2025.
