MANILA - Philippine farm output growth this year will likely be at the lower end of the 0.5 to 1.5% range targeted by the government because of heavy crop damage after recent typhoons, a top official said on Wednesday.

"We're looking at the lower end of the target. The market is still consolidating right now from the damages," Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap told reporters.

The country lost 1.3 million tons of paddy rice, the main crop, after three strong typhoons hit the main Luzon island from late September, prompting Manila to import rice early.

Three rice tenders for a total 1.8 million tons are scheduled for next month, bringing imports to 2.05 million tons for arrival between January and May 2010.

Farm output, which accounts for about a fifth of the Philippines' gross domestic product, grew 1.5% year-on-year in the first nine months of the year.

Agriculture production rose 3.9% in 2008, helping the overall economy grow 3.8%.

Yap said output will likely rebound in the first quarter, but declined to give a forecast.