Agricultural production in the Philippines is estimated to have declined year on year in the second quarter, BusinessWorld reported, citing the onset of El Niño and rising farm input costs.
The El Niño phenomenon is expected to have brought dry spells and reduced rainfall to key farming areas, while the Persian Gulf War has driven up global prices for fuel and fertilizer. These factors likely raised production costs and lowered yields for various agricultural commodities, according to the report.
A contraction in farm output could add upward pressure on food prices and strain rural incomes, underscoring the sector's vulnerability to weather shocks and external cost pressures. The estimate covers the period from April to June, with official figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority expected to be released in the coming weeks.