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THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said growth in agricultural production will be led by a continuing recovery in the hog and poultry industries, adding to expected record production for the staple crop, rice.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel V. de Mesa said palay (unmilled rice) production is expected to hit 20.3 million metric tons (MMT) in 2026, according to projections issued by the National Rice Program. The record was set in 2023 at 20.06 MMT.

“In 2026, we are expecting palay production to be better. We are expecting the production to be bigger than in previous years. The same goes for corn,” he said at a briefing.

The DA also expects further recovery in the livestock sector, particularly in the swine industry, while poultry production is projected to continue leading the sector’s growth.

Mr. De Mesa said the DA is still working on final projections and the overall target for agricultural output in 2026.

He added that the DA also estimates output to have improved in 2025. “For the fourth quarter of 2025, the output was good. Hopefully, the full-year output for 2025 will be higher,” Mr. De Mesa said.

Analysts have projected modest growth in agricultural output in 2025, as gains in poultry and crop production likely offset weaker performance in livestock and fisheries.

Former Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar has told BusinessWorld that he estimates farm output to have expanded by about 2% last year, reversing the 2.2% contraction recorded in 2024. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel

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