Philippine agriculture grew by 3.1 percent in 2025, its fastest pace in eight years, signaling a possible turnaround for a sector long challenged by weather shocks, disease outbreaks, and production volatility.

Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday showed that last year’s performance marked the strongest expansion since 2017, when agriculture grew by 4.2 percent. In the years that followed, output alternated between weak growth and contraction, often undermined by extreme weather events, animal diseases, and crop pests.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the latest figures suggest that policy interventions are beginning to address long-standing structural weaknesses, even as the sector endured nearly two dozen storms in the second half of 2025.

Encouraging and instructive

“The 2025 performance of agriculture is both encouraging and instructive — it tells us what is working and where we need to sharpen our approach,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. “We are using these lessons to fine-tune our programs and accelerate investments in smarter, climate-resilient, and more productive agriculture.”

Growth was driven mainly by improved crop output. Palay production rose by 3.5 percent, while corn output increased by 3.4 percent, helping stabilize domestic food supply.

Standout performance was sugar

The standout performer was sugar, which surged 56 percent on the back of record production in 2025. The increase helped ease price pressures and improve farm incomes in major producing areas. Coffee and cacao also posted double-digit gains, supported by rising demand and improved farm-level practices.

The DA said these gains highlight the impact of targeted government support, even as climate risks persisted throughout the year.

For 2026, the national budget signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. provides additional funding for farm-to-market roads (FMRs), cold storage facilities, and drying systems, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and lowering logistics costs.

Farm-to-market roads development

Beginning this year, the DA will oversee the development of FMRs following the transfer of the projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the aftermath of last year’s infrastructure scandal. Tiu Laurel said the transition offers an opportunity to restore trust and accountability in project implementation.

As part of this effort, the DA launched FMR Watch, a public transparency and monitoring portal developed by the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) through its Information Systems and Digitalization Division.

The platform allows stakeholders to track projects from proposal to completion by integrating official DA records with budget data, construction milestones, geotagged photos, and citizen feedback.

FMR Watch currently tracks 4,810 projects implemented between 2021 and 2025, with a combined investment of P76.52 billion and coverage of nearly 2,400 kilometers of farm-to-market roads nationwide.

Digital flashlight

Of these, 3,135 projects have been completed. Tiu Laurel described the initiative as a”digital flashlight” to ensure practical public oversight.