DA: Agriculture output growth could reach 1.5%MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects the country’s agriculture output to grow by as much as 1.5 percent this year as the rice and livestock sectors recover. The agriculture sector’s growth is projected at 1.2 to 1.5 percent this year and by 2.3 to 2.5 percent next year, DA Undersecretary for policy, planning, and regulations Mercedita Sombilla said in an interview with reporters yesterday. “Hopefully, the livestock sector will drive growth if the hog industry recovers… also the palay production. The agriculture sector declined by 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent in the first and second quarter, respectively. The third quarter growth also reversed the 2.6 percent contraction of the farm production in the same period last year.

Source: Philippine Star December 19, 2022 16:48 UTC