AGRICULTURE SEES STRONGEST EXPANSION IN FIVE YEARS WITH 2.6% GROWTH

The country’s agricultural output rose 2.6 percent in 2025 to nearly P1.8 trillion, marking the highest growth in five years, driven mainly by the crops and poultry subsectors.

The crops sector grew by almost 3 percent to P986.8 billion, while poultry output surged 9 percent to a record P304 billion, though the livestock subsector fell 2.3 percent due to animal diseases.

Fisheries output remained largely flat at P233 billion, and typhoons in the fourth quarter limited overall growth, which was just 0.5 percent year-on-year in that period.

Department of Agriculture officials said the growth demonstrates the sector’s resilience despite climate risks and disease outbreaks.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized plans to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as cold storage, greenhouses, and smart irrigation, to sustain growth and stabilize food supplies and prices.

Source: PhilNews24 | January 30, 2026