Philippines counts the cost of typhoon damage to ag

A preliminary estimate of the losses to Filipino agriculture from last week’s Typhoon Lando has been put at PHP5.9 billion (US$127 million). According to the Department of Agriculture, around 277,060 hectares of rich farmland in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera were affected.
Of the 386,000 metric tons in lost crop production, 90 percent is rice, worth PHP5.3 billion (US$114 million). Other losses are 5,600 metric tons of corn and 21,800 metric tons in other high-value crops including vegetables. Department Undersecretary Emerson Palad announced that a directive has been sent out to release seed rice and corn so damaged farms can be replanted without delay.
The livestock sector is thought to have incurred losses of PHP517,000 (US$11,100) from the typhoon.
The storm resulted to considerable damage in agriculture, but the agriculture department stated that it negated the potentially more devastating effects of El Niño on agricultural production. According to a report in Inquirer, seven provinces in Luzon continue to suffer drought conditions despite the heavy rain brought by Lando.
In the past few days, the agriculture department has announced support for the country’s livestock and poultry industries in Davao region to boost their competitiveness after agreement of economic integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), reports Sun Star.
Regional Director Remelyn Recoter, urged the nation’s food businesses to ensure they achieve accreditation under national standards, including Good Agricultural Animal Husbandry Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). Among the beneficiaries of the government support is a duck processing plant at Tamugan in Marilog District, which aims to export its products to Singapore and China, and Subzero Ice and Cold Storage Meat Processing Plant at Binugao in Toril, which hopes to send Yakitori produce to Japan.

Philippines poultry production up 5.5 percent in first half 2012

Philippines poultry production recorded exceptional growth of 5.5 percent in value for the first six months of 2012 when compared with January to June 2011, according to the country's Department of Agriculture.
Poultry production represented 13.9 percent of total agricultural output, with revenues of P81.3 billion (US$1.92 billion). Overall, the valuation of output by the agricultural sector grew by 1 percent in the first semester. A statement by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the growth rate achieved by poultry compared with 1.5 percent for crop production (including 4.8 percent for corn) and 0.5 percent for other livestock. Total corn production in 2012 is forecast to reach a record of 7.46 million metric tons, up 7 percent from 2011's harvest.

Philippine poultry production increases 7 percent in first quarter 2012

January–March 2012 poultry production in the Philippines continued its upward trend, growing over 7 percent compared to the same period in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service's latest report.
Chicken production increased 7.38 percent and duck production rose 1.82 percent; chicken and duck egg production increased by 6.92 percent and 1.18 percent, respectively. In calendar year 2011 chicken production totaled 1.41 million metric tons live weight, up 4.52 percent from 135 million metric tons in 2010. Growth was due to the expansion of commercial broiler farms and the higher number of broilers dressed, according to the USDA. Duck production was 33,153 metric tons, up 0.53 percent from 32,970 metric tons in 2010. Chicken egg production grew 6.92 percent in 2011 and duck egg production increased by 1.18 percent.
The value of U.S. poultry meat exports to the Philippines totaled $70 million in 2011, an increase of over 39 percent when compared to 2010 ($50.3 million). The value of eggs and egg products exports totaled to $1.9 million in 2011, up almost 133 percent compared to 2011 numbers ($825,000).The growth rate for 2006–2011 was 389.8 percent for poultry meats and 230.9 percent for eggs and egg products. In volume, poultry meat exports grew 47.8 percent to reach 72,689 metric tons in 2011. Eggs and egg products exports totaled 612 metric tons, up 187.1 percent from 2010. The five-year growth rate (2006–2011) was 249 percent for poultry meats and 173.4 percent for eggs and egg products, according to USDA data.
For more U.S. egg and poultry information and statistics, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html. 

Philippines poultry, corn production up in first quarter 2012

The Philippines saw an increase in poultry and corn production in the first quarter of 2012, both of which contributed to the country's overall 1.08 percent growth in agriculture output over 2011, according to the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics.
Poultry had a 14.07 percent share of the country's total agricultural output in the first quarter, a 7.06 percent increase from the same time in 2011 and attributed to a 7.4 percent rise in chicken production. Corn production rose by 5.38 percent to 2.017 million metric tons, attributed to expanded harvest areas and increased yields due to favorable weather, said the bureau.
Overall agriculture gains are down so far from 2011, which posted a 4.1 percent expansion in the first quarter (the fastest first-quarter growth since 2004) due to increased palay and corn production. But the government expects 4 percent to 5 percent growth in farm output for 2012, with better production from all sectors beginning in the second quarter.

Philippines poultry, hog producer planned strike could open market to imported meat

The Philippines Department of Agriculture is asking poultry and hog producers not to go through with a planned strike, saying that the five-day "chicken and pork holiday" could open the country's domestic market to frozen and imported products.
Poultry and hog growers have warned that they will stage the holiday for a maximum of five days if the government does not make good on its promise to crack down on smugglers of meat who threaten the livelihood of back-yard hog raisers and small-time poultry growers. The National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. said the planned strike is not meant to penalize consumers but is one way of getting their message across to the government.
The increase in the production costs of small poultry growers and hog raisers coupled with the unabated smuggling of meat are crippling the industry, said the National Federation of Hog Farmers. Industry data showed that the hogs sector alone loses around P3.2 billion (US$75.7 million) monthly from unfair competition from imported pig meat. The sector has lost around P12.8 billion (US$302.8 million) in foregone revenues from January 2012 to April 2012.
The agriculture secretary said he is planning to sit with the Department of Finance, Bureau of Customs, local hog raisers, poultry growers and meat importers to “settle once and for all” their disagreement over smuggling.

Philippines poultry, egg production grow first half 2011

Growth in the Philippines poultry sector showed a 3.6% increase in the first half of 2011, according to the country's Bureau of Agricultural Statistics. Poultry's contribution to the country's total agricultural production was 13.35%.
Chicken production grew by 3.8% and chicken egg production went up by 3.48%. The total gross for poultry was PHP 77.8 billion (US$1.83 billion), 0.16% higher than 2010 numbers.
Overall, agriculture in the Philippines posted a 5.48% growth in the first six months of 2011.

Philippines assessing poultry industry flood damage

Tropical storm Ondoy is being blamed for flood damage in the poultry-producing areas of Central Luzon and Rizal in the Philippines, say reports.
The country’s Department of Agriculture is unable to make estimates regarding the damage extent at this time.
In 2006 the country was hit by typhoon Milenyo, making chicken imports necessary to meet demand.