MANILA - A prolonged 2005 dry spell likely trimmed growth in the Philippines farm sector to some 2.5 percent, Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban said yesterday.

The preliminary figure was lower than the 2005 full-year government target of 3.0-4.0 percent growth. Agriculture accounts for about a fifth of the country's economic output.

"It would be safe to say that total output of this major economic sector for the entire year could end up only slightly better than two percent, assuming that the production performance in the fourth quarter (was) much better than in the first nine months," Panganiban said.

The exact figures are not yet available but department officials said preliminary data shows that agricultural growth will reach only about 2.5 percent.

Crop production actually declined by 0.3 percent in the first nine months due to a first half dry spell that hit rice, corn and sugar cane production, Panganiban said.

He said measures were being undertaken to increase the sector's growth to "not less than four percent" in 2006. This would include better timing in the release of agricultural funds and more government spending.*AFP

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