Agriculture officials project a rebound for the sector in the second quarter of 2024, as a resurgence in rice production and consistent growth in livestock and poultry begin to reverse a sluggish start to the year.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted that improving planting conditions, better palay prices, and targeted government support are driving the turnaround. He noted that the livestock and poultry industries remain vital in stabilizing the national food supply and supporting overall agricultural output.
The recovery follows a difficult first quarter where the combined production of agriculture and fisheries dipped by 0.3% to approximately ₱438 billion.
This decline was largely fueled by a 2.4% drop in crop output, valued at ₱244 billion, and a 6.1% contraction in the fisheries sector, which fell to ₱52 billion.
Specifically, palay production saw a 6.3% decrease to 4.4 million metric tons. This slump was attributed to the residual damage from late 2025 typhoons, compromised irrigation infrastructure, and a period of low farmgate prices that occurred before the government implemented temporary rice import restrictions late last year.
In contrast, the following sectors showed resilience:
- Livestock: Output climbed 5.1% to roughly ₱61 billion.
- Poultry: Production grew by 7.1% to approximately ₱81 billion, driven by a high demand for cost-effective protein sources.
Despite the optimistic Q2 outlook, Secretary Tiu Laurel warned of significant challenges in the latter half of the year.
He pointed to rising fuel costs affecting logistics and fertilizers, along with the looming threat of an El Niño-induced drought, as potential disruptors to the sector’s momentum.