BusinessWorld
CROPS OUTPUT, which made up 59% of the agriculture sector’s total production, jumped 3.3% in the first quarter. PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS
THE COUNTRY’S agricultural output shrank by an annual 3.3% in the first quarter, as livestock and poultry production contracted, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Monday.
In a statement, the PSA said the value of production in the agriculture sector at constant 2018 prices dropped by 3.3% in the January to March period, lower than the -1.7% a year ago. However, this was still a slight improvement from the -3.8% posted in the fourth quarter of 2020.
“This was due to the reduction in the livestock and poultry production. On the other hand, crops and fisheries both recorded increases in production,” the PSA said.
April 29, 2021 THE top official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas has lauded farmers and stakeholders as the region posted the highest annual growth in agriculture output for 2020.
DA-Western Visayas Regional Director Remelyn Recoter, in her Facebook post, said the region s agricultural production posted a growth rate of 4.7 percent in 2020 based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Recoter said the regional line agency would like to express its sincerest appreciation to all the stakeholders in the region especially the farmers, fishers and animal raisers. They gave their best efforts in spite of the threat of the ongoing pandemic, she said, adding that they continued to cultivate their farms, raise animals, and culture and caught fishes to contribute to ensuring food security in the region and the country as a whole.
Press Release
Villar extolls accomplishments of Rice Tarification Law
On the second year of Rice Tarification Law (RTL), Sen. Cynthia A. Villar extolled that the implementing agencies of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) continue to deliver their commitment to insure the availability of affordable and quality rice to consumers.
Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, also said this resulted to an increase in the productivity and incomes of rice farmers amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The RTL or Republic Act (RA) No. 11203, signed in 2019, liberalized rice imports and imposed a tariff of 35% imports from Southeast Asian.
First-quarter rice tariff collections top P4 billion bworldonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bworldonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
SunStar
Palay seeds subsidy April 23, 2021 THE City Government of Bago is set to distribute certified seeds to rice farmers in the southern Negros Occidental locality starting next week.
The local government, in its official newsletter s Facebook page, announced that a total of 6,500 bags of seeds were already delivered to the city on Thursday, April 22.
Officials led by Mayor Nicholas Yulo along with City Agriculturist Carlito inspected the seeds delivered at the City Agriculture Office s warehouse.
The initial delivery included 3,000 bags of NSIC RC 222 and 2,000 bags of NSIC RC 216 certified palay from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) under the Department of Agriculture s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund project.