Philippines: Fruit production up
This volume of production was 5.13 percent higher compared to 683,128.51 MT of the same period last year, Carlito A. Baclayon, Regional Agricultural Statistics Officer, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), said.
Of these fruit crops, lanzones posted the highest growth of 3,391.85 percent, followed by papaya with 114.19 percent, due to more fruit-bearing trees in Misamis Oriental, during the period.
Next was rambutan, 85.83 percent; pineapple, 11.37 percent; watermelon, 7.45 percent; calamansi, 1.32 percent; and banana, 0.69 percent.
However, the following fruits posted declines in production: mandarin, - 62.04 percent; mangosteen, -48 percent; durian, -14.81percent; mango, -4.19 percent.
Meanwhile, Baclayon said vegetable production in the region, during the period, also increased from 14,546.50 MT to 14,669.39 MT or 0.84 percent.
Among the vegetables, cabbage posted the highest increase in production with 19.19 percent, followed by cauliflower,17.39 percent; okra, 12.39 percent; and carrots, 8.52 percent.
Broccoli, 8.33 percent; lettuce, 5,26 percent; eggplant/aubergine, 4.47 percent; gourd, 3.09 percent; pepper, 1.11 percent; squash, 3.57 percent; and string beans, 4.87 percent.
Decline in production, however, was noted on asparagus with -100 percent; potato, -2.74 percent; and tomato, -4.85 percent.
On the other hand, production of root crops was noted to have declined, from 180,051.04 MT to 162,277.94 MT or -9.87 percent; with cassava at -10.70 percent; and peanut, -6.36 percent, except for ginger which increased by 6.94 percent and sweet potato by 5.11 percent.
Source: pia.gov.ph
