Agriculture posted a 3.69 percent growth in 2002. Notwithstanding the threat of the El Niño weather phenomenon, all the subsectors posted gross output increases. The gross value of agricultural production was estimated at P617.9 billion at current prices, representing a 7.38 percent increase over last year’s record.

 

The crops subsector managed to grow by 1.39 percent. Crop farmers weathered the uncertainties of the times and carried on with their production activities. Palay which accounted for more than 16 percent of this year's agricultural output came up with 2.44 percent increase in production this year. The subsector gained the most in terms of gross receipts. It recorded a 10.44 percent increment over last year's earnings with gross output valued at P305.4 billion at current prices.

The uptrend in livestock production was sustained as 2002 registered a 4.39 percent increase in output. Save for the minimal decrease in cattle production, output gains were noted in all the livestock components. The subsector grossed P110.8 billion at current prices, up by 4.21 percent this year.
The poultry subsector expanded by 6.13 percent. Production of chicken and chicken egg continued to move upward. Prices went down, thus, the deceleration in the growth of the subsector’s gross earnings. At current prices, the subsector obtained P88.6 billion, representing a 3.48 percent gain over last year’s level.

The fishery subsector expanded by 6.77 percent this year. Commercial fisheries and aquaculture provided the big push for fishery growth with output increments of 6.64 percent and 9.65 percent, respectively. The subsector’s gross earnings stood at P113.1 billion at current prices and registered a 5.78 percent increase this year.

 

Farmgate prices went up by an average of 3.56 percent in 2002. The biggest gainer was the crops subsector where prices grew by an average of 8.92 percent compared to 2001 quotations. Prices of livestock and poultry and fishery products were down this year. In the case of livestock and fishery, the cuts were lower than one percent.