MANILA – The value of Philippine agricultural production reached P1.77 trillion in 2025, up 2.6 percent from the previous year, marking the highest annual growth in five years, the Department of Agriculture reported.

Crop production, which accounts for over half of total agricultural output, was the hardest hit by weather disturbances in the fourth quarter. The value of crops—including rice and corn—fell 2.5 percent to P274.3 billion in the last quarter, though full-year crop output still rose 2.8 percent to P986.8 billion.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government is shifting from reactive measures to climate-resilient strategies. “We’re now laying the groundwork for a smarter, climate-resilient agriculture,” he said, citing investments in cold storage, drying facilities, silos, upgraded rice processing systems, greenhouses, and smart irrigation to stabilize supply and smooth food prices.

Other subsectors showed mixed results. Livestock production rose 1 percent in the fourth quarter to P68.4 billion, largely driven by swine, but fell 2.3 percent for the full year to P246.4 billion due to structural challenges. The hog sector, however, posted 1.6 percent growth in the fourth quarter, marking its first expansion since the African Swine Fever outbreak.

Poultry was the standout performer, with fourth-quarter output up 8.9 percent to P78.2 billion and full-year production rising 9.1 percent to P304.7 billion. Poultry now accounts for roughly 16 percent of total agricultural output.

Fisheries output grew 4 percent in the fourth quarter to P66.1 billion but ended the year slightly down at P233.7 billion, a 0.3 percent decline.

The report underscores the sector’s vulnerability to climate shocks, with growth gains at risk if adaptation measures are not accelerated.