value added (GVA) of about 1.78 trillion Philippines pesos, equivalent to a 10.

2 percent share of
the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). however, as a result of the prolonged lock down
imposed due to the corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic, along with the natural calamities that
occurred in the country, the sector’s gross output contracted by 1.2 percent in that year.
Agriculture today is more than just a farmer simply planting a crop, growing livestock, or
catching fish. It takes an ecosystem and several actors to work together to produce and to deliver
the food we need. It is this dynamic and ecosystem that will equip agriculture to cope with the
competing challenges of addressing food safety and food security, creating inclusive livelihoods,
mitigating climate change and sustainability managing natural resources. Advance in agri-
biotechnology and farming practices and methods have enabled farmers to become more