Manila: Recovery efforts are underway to address the decline in the Philippine agriculture sector due to adverse weather conditions and African swine fever (ASF), according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). The DA assured that measures are in place to counteract the impacts of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, as well as successive typhoons.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported a 3.7 percent contraction in agri-fishery output during the third quarter, amounting to PHP397.43 billion. The livestock sector experienced the most significant decline, with a 6.7 percent drop to PHP61.67 billion. Fisheries and crops also saw declines of 5.5 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa highlighted the interventions being implemented to aid farmers in their recovery from these challenges. Measures include boosting production and balancing it with importation.
Efforts to support the sector involve distributing PHP541.02 milli
on worth of agricultural inputs, a PHP500 million loanable fund through the SURE program, and a PHP1 billion Quick Response Fund. Additionally, Kadiwa food trucks are being deployed, and rice stocks are distributed to disaster-hit areas.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. has released PHP24.4 million in indemnification to farmers in the Bicol region affected by Tropical Storm Kristine. Meanwhile, the DA has reported the arrival of nearly 3.8 million metric tons of imported rice under a reduced tariff.
Modifications in cropping calendars and irrigation infrastructure enhancements are also part of the DA’s efforts to mitigate climate change impacts, as stated by DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
In the livestock sector, De Mesa mentioned efforts to secure the approval of AVAC live vaccines for ASF before year-end. Meanwhile, the poultry sector achieved a 5.8 percent increase in production, credited to stringent measures against avian influenza, with only one active case remaining in San Luis, Pampanga.
