The Philippine Department of Agriculture projects the country’s agriculture sector to grow by as much as 5% this year, as the crops and fisheries subsectors are expected to post good performance.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said he expects the recovery of the fisheries subsector, to be boosted by a bilaterial agreement on tuna fishing currently being negotiated with Papua New Guinea.
Mr Alcala said that under the agreement, Papua New Guinea will allow the Philippines access to its waters for tuna fishing, and in exchange the Philippines will help Papua New Guinea in planting rice as well as provide assistance in fish processing. In 2011, Philippine agriculture grew by only 2.34%.
