Poultry emerged as the clear growth driver of Philippine agriculture in 2025, helping lift the total value of farm output to ₱1.77 trillion, up 2.6 percent from the previous year, even as weather disturbances dragged down crops late in the year.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday (Jan. 28) that last year’s expansion was the highest recorded in the past five years, underscoring both the sector’s resilience and its continuing exposure to climate risks.
While crops remain the backbone of agriculture, it was poultry that delivered the strongest and most consistent gains.
In the fourth quarter alone, poultry output jumped 8.9 percent to ₱78.2 billion, while full-year production rose 9.1 percent to ₱304.7 billion, with gains across nearly all commodities except duck eggs. Poultry now accounts for around 16 percent of total agricultural output, solidifying its role as a key growth engine for the sector.
The robust poultry performance provided a crucial buffer as crops faltered under unfavorable weather.
Crop production took the hardest hit toward the end of the year. In the fourth quarter, the value of crops—including rice and corn—fell 2.5 percent to ₱274.3 billion, as weather disturbances disrupted harvests.
For the full year, however, crop output still managed a 2.8 percent increase to ₱986.8 billion, making up 56 percent of total agricultural production.
The figures highlight a long-standing vulnerability: crops remain both the foundation of Philippine agriculture and its most exposed segment when climate shocks intensify.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government is moving to address this structural weakness.
“We’re now laying the groundwork for a smarter, climate-resilient agriculture,” he said, pointing to investments in cold storage, drying facilities, silos, upgraded rice processing systems, greenhouses, and smart irrigation.
The aim, he said, is to cushion the impact of extreme weather, stabilize supply, and help smooth food prices for both producers and consumers.
Elsewhere in the sector, performance was mixed.
Livestock production rose 1 percent in the fourth quarter to ₱68.4 billion, largely driven by swine, but declined 2.3 percent for the full year to ₱246.4 billion, reflecting lingering structural challenges. Still, the hog subsector posted 1.6 percent growth in the fourth quarter—the first expansion since the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak—signaling a sustained recovery.
Fisheries posted a 4 percent increase in the fourth quarter to ₱66.1 billion, but ended the year slightly lower at ₱233.7 billion, down 0.3 percent.
Overall, the data show an agricultural sector that is still growing, but with its trajectory increasingly shaped by climate volatility. Poultry’s strong performance is helping carry the load for now, but without faster adaptation, broader gains—especially in crops—remain vulnerable to the next round of weather disruptions.