28 June 2022 - The Philippine Statistics Authority Region 7 (PSA 7) conducted the Regional Data Dissemination Forum on the 2021 Performance of Agriculture and Fisheries in Central Visayas via blended set-up at Golden Prince Hotel & Suites, Cebu City. The Forum was conducted to present the volume and value of agriculture and fisheries in the Region. The said forum was attended by the different Regional Line Agencies in Central Visayas, members of the Regional Statistics Committee (RSC), academe, media personnel, Officials from PSA Central Office, and the discussant/resource speakers from the Department of Agriculture 7 (DA 7) Mr. Elvin Milleza, Project Evaluation Officer IV and Ms. Marina Viniegas, Agricultural Center Chief II. This is the first time that PSA 7 has done a Data Dissemination Forum on the performance of agriculture and fisheries of the region.

As an overview of the Agricultural Surveys, PSA 7 Senior Statistical Specialist Cayylord D. Niala presented the background, uses, concepts and definitions of Agriculture and Fisheries Statistics. He mentioned that the Agriculture and Fisheries Survey provides information on the accomplishments of agriculture during a reference period. Performance is measured in terms of the gross output produced by the sector.

Furthermore, PSA 7 Chief Statistical Specialist Engr. Leopoldo P. Alfanta, Jr. announced that agriculture and fisheries in Central Visayas grew by 5.0 percent in 2021 from 1.4 percent in 2020. Among the subsectors in 2021, Livestock posted the highest growth rate of 8.1 percent followed by Crops with 4.9 percent. Fisheries had the lowest growth rate with 0.2 percent.

In terms of percent share of the total Agriculture & Fisheries in Central Visayas, Livestock had the highest share of 33.3 percent. This is followed by Crops with 32.8 percent share, Poultry with 19.8 percent share and Fisheries with 14.1 percent share.

Among regions with positive growth, Central Visayas ranked second behind BARMM which tops among all region with 7.2 percent.  Region 4A or CALABARZON had the highest contraction of -13.3 percent.

With the onslaught of super typhoon Odette last December 2021, corn production performance did suffer a minimal loss in its annual production, DA 7 representative Ms. Marina Viniegas said. She further mentioned that rice program turned over six (6) units of Small Farm Reservoir (SFR) and other projects to increase the production area of the region. 

Moreover, despite all the challenges faced by the organic agriculture industry, farmers and program implementers saw the opportunities to contribute for the improvement of the overall agriculture, she further said.

Issues, concerns, and questions were discussed during the open forum wherein representatives from DA 7, PSA 7 and Central Office, BFAR 7, and other agencies exchanged inputs for the improvement of agricultural and fisheries statistics in the region. 

The report supports the data needs of planners, policy and decision makers, and other stakeholders in the agriculture and fisheries sector and the general public. This can also be used by the academe for further research.