Western Visayas (WV) posted the biggest annual growth in agricultural production among the 17 regions in the country in 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority recently reported.
WV is composed of the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.
Based on the PSA data, the region recorded the highest agricultural production at 4.7 percent, followed by CARAGA at 3.6 percent, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 2.2 percent, and Central Visayas at 1.4 percent
Higher agricultural productions were also noted in Ilocos Region at 1.0 percent, SOCCSKSARGEN at 0.8 percent, Northern Mindanao at 0.4 percent, and Eastern Visayas at 0.1 percent, the PSA said.
On the other hand, CALABARZON registered the highest decline in agricultural production at -8.0 percent, while Central Luzon also has a -6.6 percent reduction, the PSA added.
For crop production, WV also posted the highest figure among the regions at 10.2 percent, while Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao were the only regions that posted increases in livestock production, with growth rates of 2.1 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively.
BARMM had the highest growth in poultry production at 10.2 percent. A double-digit increase in fisheries production was also posted by Central Visayas at 15.7 percent, the PSA said.
The PSA said that Central Luzon contributed the largest share in the total agricultural production with 14.0 percent. It was also the biggest contributor to poultry and fisheries production with shares of 28.5 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively.
For crop production, Northern Mindanao had the highest share at 11.1 percent, while CALABARZON accounted for the biggest share in livestock production at 16.0 percent, PSA added.
In a separate PSA report, all regions in the country posted declines in economic performance in 2020, with WV posting -9.7 percent.*
