The Department of Agriculture expects a modest growth of 2.5 percent in agriculture next year, faster than the 1-percent increase this year amid the pandemic. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a year-end report while COVID-19 continued to affect the national economy, the need for sustenance remains a top priority. “For this reason alone, agriculture registered positive contributions to the economy compared to the other movers of the economy such as construction, real estate and manufacturing,” he said. Agriculture joined the top three industries that posted positive rates in the third quarter. These were financial and insurance activities at 6.2 percent; public administration and defense, compulsory social activities, 4.5 percent; and agriculture, forestry, and fishing, at 1.2 percent.

Campos, O. V. (2020, December 31). DA expects 2.5% growth in farm, fishery sector in 2021. Manila Standard, p. B4.