REGIONAL ECONOMIC SITUATIONER Western ... - NEDA-RDC VI

Table 4
Selected Production Indicators, Region VI
Third Quarter 2003, 2004 and 2005
3rd 3rd 3rd Percent Percent
INDICATOR Quarter Quarter Quarter Change Change
2003 2004 2005 Over '03 Over '04
A. Crops (MT)
Palay 687,299 806,341 617,232 -10.2 -23.5
Corn 67,896 78,276 97,831 44.1 25.0
Sugarcane 390,692 390,848 321,412 -17.7 -17.8
Banana 39,234 40,533 41,467 5.7 2.3
Mango 3,810 3,252 3,754 -1.5 15.4
Coconuts ('000 nuts) 125,972 124,009 124,358 -1.3 0.3
B. Animal Slaughtering
(MT-Liveweight)
Carabao 4,500 4,532 4,087 -9.2 -9.8
Cattle 6,538 6,092 5,711 -12.6 -6.3
Swine 33,710 35,820 41,513 23.1 15.9
Goat 1,532 1,514 1,281 -16.4 -15.4
Chicken 14,261 15,155 16,446 15.3 8.5
Duck 1,362 1,021 902 -33.8 -11.7
C. Fisheries (MT)
Commercial 34,639 30,457 29,794 -14.0 -2.2
Municipal 28,611 29,755 31,317 9.5 5.2
Aquaculture 39,299 39,102 38,383 -2.3 -1.8
Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Region 6
Mango production in the region ranges between 3-4 million MT. For this
period, output increased by 15% compared last year, but lower by 1% compared to
2003 level. Mango production may be expected to increase over time as
plantations expand as a result of crop diversification from sugarcane.
Coconut production, on the other hand, widely ranges between 124-126
million nuts for whole region. This period’s output increased insignificantly (0.3%)
compared last year and decreased, also insignificantly (1%), compared to 2003
level. Coconut output may not be expected to dramatically increase over time
considering the continuous increasing demand for the cheap coconut lumber vis-àvis
efforts of the government to expand planting of high yielding varieties all over
the region.
B. Animal Slaughtering
Livestock and poultry production based on number slaughtered for
consumption during this period, generally decreased compared to the previous
two years, except for swine and chicken.
Carabao and cattle slaughtering declined even as demand is increasing
due to population. Factors like declining pastures and low incomes may be the
main causes of this trend. Likewise, goat production also showed a steady
decline. On the other hand, swine production steadily increased as, probably, it
represents the cheaper alternative for meat and fish consumption. Moreover,
backyard swine production has become a steady source of income for
households as it is not affected by shrinking and drying pastures.
Chicken slaughtering showed an increasing trend over the last two years.
A bumper corn production in the region could have significantly contributed to the
increase of chicken production. In contrast, duck production showed a
dramatically decreasing trend. This could be largely due to drying up of irrigation
canals and paddy fields – the main support system of duck-raising.
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