AGRICULTURE is a late Middle English adaptation of Latin agricultra, from ager, "field", and cultra, "cultivation" or "growing". The art and science of growing plants and other crops and the raising of animals for food, other human needs, or economic gain.

Other Definitions of Agriculture 1. Agriculture is the systematic raising of useful plants and livestock under the

management of man. (Rimando, T.J.. 2004. Crop Science 1: Fundamentals of Crop Science. U.P.

Los Baos: University Publications Office. p. 1). 2. Agriculture is the growing of both plants and animals for human needs. (Abellanosa, A.L. and H.M. Pava. 1987. Introduction to Crop Science. Central

Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon: Publications Office. p. 238). 3. Agriculture is the science or practice of large-scale soil cultivation. (The New Websters Dictionary of the English Language (international ed.).

2004. Lexicon Publications, Inc. p. 17). 4. Agriculture is the deliberate effort to modify a portion of Earth's surface

through the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock for sustenance or economic gain.

(Rubenstein, J.M. 2003. The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. p. 496).

Significance of Agriculture

Source of Livelihood

The main source livelihood of many people is agriculture.

Approximately 70 % of the people directly rely on agriculture as

a mean of living.

Supply of Food as well as Fodder

Agricultural sector provides fodder for domestic animals .

Significance to the International Trade

Agricultural products like sugar, tea, rice, spices, tobacco, coffee

etc. constitute the major items of exports of countries that rely

on agriculture.

Marketable Surplus

The growth of agricultural sector contributes to marketable

surplus. Many people engage in manufacturing, mining as well as

other non- agricultural sector as the nation develops.

Source of Raw Material

The main source of raw materials to major industries such as

cotton and jute fabric, sugar, tobacco, edible as well as non-

edible oils is agriculture.

Foreign Exchange Resources

The nations export trade depends largely on agricultural sector.

Great Employment Opportunities

Construction of irrigation schemes, drainage system as well as

other such activities in the agricultural sector is important as it

provides larger employment opportunities.

Economic Development

Since agriculture employs many people it contributes to

economic development. As a result, the national income level as

well as peoples standard of living is improved. The fast rate of

development in agriculture sector offers progressive outlook as

well as increased motivation for development.

Source of Saving

Development in agriculture may also increase savings.

Food Security

A stable agricultural sector ensures a nation of food

security. The main requirement of any country is food

security.

Contribution to National revenue Agriculture is the main source of national income for most

developing countries.

Issues and Problems about

Philippine Agriculture

Underfunding

- public expenditures for agricultural research in real terms and as a ratio to agricultural gross value added (GVA) declined significantly throughout the past decade.

Institutional Weakness - Limited technological progress in Philippine agriculture has

been caused not only by under investments but also by institutional weaknesses that adversely affect the financial support, efficiency, and effectiveness of the research and extension system.

Budget allocation for technological development is biased against research in favor of extension

-While the country has one-of the lowest public expenditures for research as a ratio of GVA in Asia, its extension budget and manpower resources are among the biggest among developing countries. Such imbalance may be explained by the widespread belief that there are a substantial number of mature technologies on the shelf and it is the weak and underfunded extension system that is a constraint. In-fact, there are too many extension agents but too few appropriate technologies to extend.

Limited research funds are allocated thinly to too many commodities; allocation favors minor crops over commodities of major economic importance.

-The misallocation in the distribution of funds among commodities, the lack of focus on technological issues of greatest scientific and economic potentials as well as bureaucratic problems in disbursements of funds lower the effectiveness of public expenditures.

Agricultural Land Conversion

-One of the most pressing concerns of the agricultural sector is the rampant conversion of agricultural land into golf courses, residential subdivisions, and industrial parks or resorts. In 1993 the nation was losing irrigated rice lands at a rate of 2,300 hectares per year.

Environmental damage

Coral-reef destruction, pollution of coastal and marine resources, mangrove forest destruction, and siltation (the clogging of bodies of water with silt deposits) are significant problems.

Agriculture production damage caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas has risen to P31.13 billion with the coconut subsector sustaining the greatest damage.

Philippine Agriculture Sector

Subsectors:

Crops

Livestock and Poultry

Fisheries

The crops subsector which shared 51.71% in total agricultural production grew by 3.25% during the year. Production of palay went up by 2.87% andthat of corn by 5.33%. Notable gains were also recorded for sugarcane, mango, tobacco, cassava and onion. At current prices, the subsectors gross value of output amounted to 933.7 million this was 14.52 5 morethan the 2013 level.

Livestock production increased by 1.025 it contributed 16.10% to total agricultural output.all components of the subsector registered output gains in 2014. the subsectors growth value of production amounted to 247.1 billion at current prices. This indicated a 5.60% improvement from last years earning.

The poultry subsector inched up by 0.27%. It shared 14.54% in the total agricultural production. The sources of growth were chicken,duck and duck egg.at current prices, the subsector grossed 189.7 billion which was 7.84% higher than the previous years level.

Fisheries production declined by 0.15% in 2014 the subsector accounted for 17.65% of total agricultural output.Gainers in the subsector were skipjack and yellowfin tuna with 13.84% and 8.18% output increases,respectively.At current prices, the subsectors gross earnings amounted to 242 billion or 1.03% lower than last years record

On the average farmgate prices went up by 7.74% from last years quotations. Significant price increases were recorded in the crop sector at 10.92%. The poultry subsector followed with an average price gain of 7.55%. In the livestock subsector, prices were quoted 4.54% more this year.meanwhile,the fisheries subsector posted an average price contaction of 0.88%

Percent Contribution of Agriculture in Philippine Economy

Economic Performance

In 2013, the country's Gross National Income (GNI) grew by 7.48 percent. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) posted a 7.18 percent

growth. Gross Value Added (GVA) in agriculture and fishing went up by 0.90 percent. This sector contributed 10 percent to the

GDP.

Production Performance in Agriculture.

Gross output in agriculture grew by 1.12 percent in 2013. Production of palay increased by 2.26 percent while that of corn decreased by 0.40 percent. Output declines were noted for other major crops such as coconut, sugarcane, banana, coffee, abaca and calamansi. Overall, the crops subsector failed to record output increment during the year. Production in the livestock subsector improved by 1.76 percent. Hog and cattle production rose by 1.95 percent and 1.76 percent, respectively. Dairy had a 5.58 percent output gain. The poultry subsector came up with a 4.29 percent growth in production. All poultry components posted output increments. Chicken had the biggest expansion at 5.11 percent. The fisheries subsector recovered from the previous year's decline with a 1.24 percent increase in production in 2013.

Prices

On the average, farmers gained 2.18 percent from the prices they received for their produce in 2013. Prices of cereals rose by an average of 3.17 percent. Increases in prices were also noted in roots and tubers, as well as fruits. Poultry and livestock products posted the biggest price gains at 12.86 percent and 7.48 percent, respectively. Prices of fishery products went up by 1.03 percent. On the other hand, price cuts were registered for commercial crops at 4.62 percent and vegetables and legumes at 0.25 percent. Meanwhile, prices paid by consumers for food and non-alcoholic beverages were up by an average of 2.79 percent in 2013.

Employment and Wages

Of the country's total labor force in 2013 at 41.02 million persons, 93 percent were employed. The agriculture sector employed 11.84 million persons and they comprised 31 percent of the national employment. In the first half of 2013, the daily nominal wage rates were P256.52 for palay farm workers and P206.04 for corn farm workers.

Agricultural Support Services

In 2013, the government expenditures for the agriculture sector amounted to P111.14 billion, higher by 26.03 percent from the 2012 record. Agricultural expenditures accounted for 5.54 percent of the national expenditures. Agricultural loans totaled P729.27 billion of which 32 percent were production loans.

After recording strong growth in the last 2 years, Philippine economic growth decelerated to 5.7 % in the first quarter of 2014 (Q1 2014). On the supply side, the services sector continued to be the main driver of growth, contributing 3.8 percentage points to overall growth, while agriculture remained weak. On the demand side, growth continued to be led by private construction, and to some extent, durable equipment, and infrastructure spending. Moreover, the recovery of net exports after 5 quarters of contraction contributed to growth. Their contribution, however, was muted by weak government consumption and the decline in private construction.

Exports and Imports

Exports

Region 1: Illocos

Tobacco, Mangoes and Peanuts

Region 3: Central Luzon

Raw materials

Region 4: Calabarzon

Cofee beans and banana chips

Region 5: Bicol

Abaca

Region 6: Western Visayas

Sugar Cane

Region 8: Eastern Visayas

Coconut oil and Corns

Region 9: Zamboanga Peninsula

Sardines

Region 10: Northern Mindanao

Coco-based products

Region 11: Davao

Banana crops , Copra , Duryan

Region 12: SOCCKSARGEN

Frozen Shrimps and Octupus

Region 13: CAR

Banana chips and Prawn