AGRICULTURE POSTS 1.1% GROWTH IN 2024-PSA

April 26, 2025 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

Agriculture, forestry and fishing (AFF) industry rebounded from negative 1.2 percent in 2023 to positive 1.1 percent in 2024 and boosted Cordillera’s economy by 4.8 percent in 2024. The data was based on the 2024 Report on the Economic Cordillera Economic Performance by the Philippine Statistics Authority- Cordillera (PSA-CAR). In 2024, AFF contributed 7.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) , equivalent to P28.09 billion to the Cordillera region’ economic output of ± 378.26 billion. The rise in productivity of high-value crops was driven by enhanced education, infrastructure development, financial support for agricultural inputs, and crop diversification, .” said Dr.
Susan D. Balanza, Chief of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) of the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera.

Other support include post-harvest systems such as the construction of cold storage facilities that minimize losses and prolong shelf life,
and enhanced Market-to-farmers linkages. For 2025, the Department of Agriculture (DA) received a total budget of 2.5 billion to
implement various programs, projects and activities, to further put in place the necessary facilities and logistics, and provide important
services towards boosting the agriculture sector. The agency reported that an average of 30 percent of agricultural produce is lost during post-harvest . To address this, they received a budget of P100 million for and an additional P61 million for cold storage. Site validations are currently underway to ensure strategic placement of these facilities, with priority given to partnering with reliable and capable farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) for effective management and sustainability.

Additional support will focus on irrigation and post-harvest facilities, with the goal of increasing palay yield. Other priority commodities include interventions on highland and lowland vegetables, as well as coffee. As for the livestock sector, efforts will focus on disease prevention, particularly against African Swine Fever, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and Avian Flu in order to maintain CAR’s disease-free status. Other strategies and initiatives focused on climate change resilience, a significant challenge of our time. The DA also aims to strengthen market access, balance developmental and regulatory roles, and promote science-driven decision-making through digitalization. Additionally, the department focuses on fostering partnerships with stakeholders, ensuring accessible financial mechanisms, and conducting continuous research to optimize sector potential.

Rizza Hull/UB Intern