During the reference period, the total agricultural output of SOCCSKSARGEN Region decreased by about 0.6 percent from 7.46 million in 2022 to 7.42 million metric tons in 2023.

YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES The Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households in SOCCSKSARGEN Region eases to 5.0% in May 2024 from 5.8% in April 2024. From 2020 to 2023, the annual average Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Households in the region exhibited an uptrend from 4.0% in 2020 to 6.3% in 2023. From January 2020 to May 2024, the lowest monthly inflation was recorded in January 2020 at 1.7% while the highest was recorded in March 2023 at 8.4%.

The value of exports decreased by 40.3 percent to US$119.975 million in May 2023 from US$201.099 million in May 2022. The volume of exports totaled up to 107.515 million kilograms in May 2023 from 149.942 million kilograms the previous year. Imports value decreased by 60.1 percent to US$45.118 million in May 2023 from US$112.976 million in May 2022. Imports volume was up to 153.384 million kilograms in May 2023 from 201.223 million kilograms in May 2022.

Export value decreased by 56.3 percent to US$80.685 million in April 2023 from US$184.700 million in April 2022. The volume of exports totaled up to 76.239 million kilograms in April 2023 from 141.262 million kilograms the previous year. The value of imports decreased by 14.0 percent to US$85.555 million in April 2023 from US$99.524 million in April 2022. Imports volume was up to 148.064 million kilograms in April 2023 from 176.690 million kilograms in April 2022.

The value of exports increased by 10.2 percent to US$144.507 million in March 2023 from US$131.128 million in March 2022. The volume of exports totaled up to 136.494 million kilograms in March 2023 from 107.632 million kilograms the previous year. Imports value decreased by 8.3 percent to US$90.930 million in March 2023 from US$99.139 million in March 2022. Imports volume was up to 233.516 million kilograms in March 2023 from 216.735 million kilograms in March 2022.

In 2021, about 63.6 percent or six (6) of the 11 municipal and city LGUs in South Cotabato (excluding General Santos City) were categorized under Level 5 or those having poverty incidences among population below or equal to 20 percent. These six (6) LGUs were Koronadal City (11.8%), Polomolok (14.5%), Sto. Niño (17.7%), Tampakan (18.2%), Surallah (18.6%), and Norala (18.8%). Poverty incidence refers to the proportion of individuals with income less than the poverty threshold. Those in Level 5 had the least poverty incidence in the province.

Other Crops total production in the 1st Quarter 2023 in SOCCSKSARGEN Region increased by 2.06% compared to the same period in 2022. Non-Food and Industrial Commercial Crops (NFICCs) increased by 34,453.2 MT (4.5%), Vegetables and Root Crops (VRC) increased by 839 MT or 1.5%, and Fruit Crops decreased 8,235.3 MT (1.7%) on the same reference period.

VOLUME OF PRODUCTION BY COMMODITY GROUP Other Crops total production in the 2nd Quarter 2023 in SOCCSKSARGEN Region decreased by (6.5%) compared to the same period in 2022. Non-Food and Industrial Commercial Crops (NFICs) decreased by 73,797.38 MT (13.8%) and Fruit Crops slightly increased 1,503.98 MT (0.3%), Vegetables and Root Crops (VRC) increased by 622.61 MT or (2.3%) on the same reference period.

YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION RATES The Inflation Rate for the Bottom 30% Income Households in SOCCSKSARGEN Region eases to 5.1% in March 2024 from 5.8% in February 2024.

Fisheries Production in SOCCSKSARGEN Region decreased by 9.0 percent In 2023, the Fisheries production of SOCCSKSARGEN Region decreased by 9.0 percent from 299,784.90 metric tons in 2022 to 272,861.41 metric tons in 2023 despite a 0.1 percent increase in Municipal Fisheries production.