The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said the agrifishery growth logged in the first quarter of the year signals a recovery momentum from last year’s combined effects of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, successive weather disturbances, pests and volcanic eruptions, among others.

The Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) recent data showed that the country logged 1.9 percent or PHP437.74 million year-on-year growth in the agriculture and fisheries sector, up from PHP429.62 billion during the same period in 2024.

These include 1 percent growth in crops, valued at PHP249.61 billion; followed by the poultry sector, which rose by 9.4 percent at PHP75.22 billion; and fisheries, PHP55.10 billion which increased by 1.5 percent.

In particular, the palay (rice) production grew by 0.3 percent, increasing output to 4.7 million metric tons (MT) from 4.69 MT last year, with a record-high yield of 4.09 metric tons per hectare, the highest since 1987, according to the DA.

“We are optimistic that the recovery in the first quarter signals momentum for the latter half of the year, especially as we bring new infrastructure online, such as cold storage facilities and rice processing systems,” Tiu Laurel said.

For 2025, the DA targets to reach a record palay harvest of 20.46 million MT.

Tiu Laurel, meanwhile, reiterated the target commercialization of AVAC live vaccines from Vietnam against African swine fever (ASF).

For the first quarter of 2025, livestock production contracted by 2.8 percent at PHP57.82 billion amid the spread of ASF.

“Hopefully, we could also begin later this year the commercial rollout of the long-awaited vaccine for African Swine Fever, which will help kickstart the DA’s large-scale hog repopulation effort,” he said.

As of April 25, barangays with active cases of ASF declined to 47 in 23 cities and municipalities from 54 barangays in 28 cities and municipalities on April 11. (PNA)