MANILA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Philippine agriculture grew 3.1 percent in 2025, its fastest expansion in eight years, as government policy interventions helped cushion the sector from the impact of nearly two dozen storms that battered the country in the second half of the year, the Department of Agriculture said Friday.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the department said the 2025 growth marked a break from years of volatility.
Since the 4.2 percent expansion in 2017, farm output had swung between weak growth and contractions, often hit by extreme weather, animal diseases and plant pests, the department said.
"The 2025 performance of agriculture is both encouraging and instructive. It tells us what is working and where we need to sharpen our approach," Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
"We are using these lessons to fine-tune our programs and accelerate investments in smarter, climate-resilient, and more productive agriculture," he added. ■
