Agriculture recorded a 4.01 percent growth in 2001. All the subsectors expanded their respective outputs. The upward trend in palay and sugarcane production and the accelerated output increases in the poultry and fishery subsectors boosted the performance of agriculture during the year. The sector's gross value of production amounting to P621.4 billion at current prices was 5.57 percent higher than the previous year's level.
	The crops subsector grew by 2.58 percent. All the "major" crops except tobacco and abaca indicated output gains this year. Palay production sustained its upward trend while corn farms recovered from last year's negative growth in output. Significant production increases were noted in sugarcane, pineapple and mango farms. The subsector grossed P322.5 billion at current prices and registered a 2.58 percent increment this year.
	Livestock production was up by 2.87 percent. The hog industry which produced 4.40 percent more output was the main source of growth. For 2001, the subsector posted gross receipts of P106.4 billion at current prices, up by 5.60 percent compared to last year's record. The poultry subsector generated 7.80 percent more output in 2001. Both chicken and duck farms came up with creditable performances. In particular, chicken production grew by 10.12 percent. The gross value of poultry production amounted to P85.9 billion at current prices, indicating a 14.17 percent increase this year.
	The upswing in fishery production was indicated by the 6.05 percent gain in output this year. The hefty 10.31 percent increase in aquaculture production drove up the subsector's growth in 2001. A surge in commercial and municipal fisheries production was also noted. The subsector grossed P106.6 billion at current prices or 8.51 percent more than last 2000 year's record.
	Farmgate prices in 2001 recorded an average increase of 1.50 percent. The downward pressure on prices was heavier on the crops subsector as many of its major items suffered from price cuts. Meanwhile, the poultry subsector enjoyed bigger price gains averaging 5.90 percent.