Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said, livestock production during the fourth quarter expanded by 3.72 per cent. It contributed 17.07 per cent to total agricultural output.

“All components of the subsector recorded increases during the last quarter, when the other subsectors’ production dipped, that is why we will focus on this and other sectors that are not as prone to the effects of inclement weather,” Mr Alcala said.

Pigs, the major contributor to the subsector’s production, recorded a 4.21 per cent growth in output.

At current prices, the subsector’s gross value of output amounted to P72.1 billion which was 1.54 per cent higher than last year’s fourth quarter record.

From January to December 2015, production in the subsector increased by 3.83 per cent.

Production in the poultry subsector went up by 4.17 per cent in the fourth quarter. It shared 14.72 percent in the total agricultural production.

Except for duck, all components of the subsector posted output increases. Chicken production which expanded by 3.58 per cent boosted the subsector’s growth.

Gross value of output amounted to P53.4 billion at current prices, representing an increase of 2.98 per cent from last year’s record. For 2015, the subsector’s output expanded by 5.74 per cent.

“Agriculture posted a 0.96 per cent contraction in output in the fourth quarter of 2015. The sector’s performance was negatively affected by the long dry spell and damages caused by Typhoon Lando. In particular, the crops and fisheries subsectors recorded lower production for the quarter,” the Secretary said.

He added, at current prices, gross value of production amounted to P448.0 billion or 6.64 per cent lower than last year’s level. On an annual basis, agricultural production grew by 0.11 per cent.

The crops subsector, which accounted for 51.83 per cent of the total agricultural production during the quarter, recorded a 2.69 per cent decline in output.

Palay and corn farms which suffered the most from the long dry spell and Typhoon “Lando” declined by 3.78 per cent and 6.04 per cent, respectively.

However, gains in production, were noted in coconut, banana, pineapple, coffee, tobacco, abaca, peanut, mongo, cassava and calamansi. The subsector grossed P259.7 billion at current prices, down by 11.05 per cent from last year’s record. For the whole year of 2015, production in crops subsector dropped by 1.95 per cent.

The fishery subsector’s production dipped by 4.28 per cent in the last quarter of 2015. It contributed 16.38 per cent to the total agricultural output.

Tilapia and seaweed production went up by 4.47 per cent and 2.45 per cent, respectively, but production declines were noted to the rest of fisheries products.

The subsector grossed P62.8 billion at current prices, or a decline of 3.45 per cent from the previous year’s record. For the period January to December 2015, the subsector recorded a 1.96 per cent drop in production.

Farmgate prices went down by an average of 5.74 per cent during the reference quarter. The crops, livestock and poultry subsectors recorded price declines from last year’s price quotations.

On the average, prices in the fisheries subsector increased. On an annual basis, farmgate prices in 2015 went down by an average of 4.78 per cent.