|
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Agri growth in 2003 one of world's highest
LAST year's agriculture growth, pegged at 3.9 percent, is one of the highest experienced by countries all over the world, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo said over the weekend.
"The growth in agriculture was one of the highest in the world. Despite Harurot and El Niño, we were able to harvest 13.5 million metric tons of rice with a total value of P118 billion. Our farmers were also able to produce 4.6 million metric tons of corn amounting P32.54 billion," Lorenzo said, adding that the government is looking forward to better harvest this year.
Showing endurance despite barriers, the country's major crops grew last year, with sugarcane and fishery leading the increase.
Massive hybridization allowed a 1.7 percent palay harvest growth last year, and increased corn production by 6.9 percent, despite the millions of crop damaged by typhoon Harurot late last year.
Coconut increased by 1.2 percent, sugarcane 13 percent, livestock 3 percent and forestry sector 193.3 percent.
"The growth was spurred by making credit more accessible to farmers as well as the proper intervention provided to the growers during the mild El Niño and super typhoon Harurot," Lorenzo said.
The Secretary, who spoke before the participants of the Mindanao wide National Confederation of Irrigators Association (NCIA), also lauded the farmers-irrigators for a "job well done" despite the challenges they are facing, among them low government subsidy, climatic disturbances and shrinking farm lands.
Lorenzo said the government expects agriculture sector to grow by at least 3.7 to 4.7 percent this year. CEU
(February 17, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
