PSA SEES Q2 PALAY OUTPUT AT 4M METRIC TONS

THE country’s palay and corn output in the second quarter of the year may be slightly higher than expected, given better irrigation and higher inputs subsidy from the government, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Monday.

Corn Forecast, the PSA said that palay production for the second quarter of - lion MT, up 0.23 percent from the MT and 11.1 percent higher than the - lion MT.

Harvest area may have increased by 0.02 percent from 0.94 million hectares. Likewise, yield per hectare may have improved to 4.39 MT from 4.38 MT, the PSA said.

“The probable increment in palay production may be attributed to higher yield brought about by extensive program on subsidized seed by the Department of Agriculture and free urea fertilizer from the UNFAO - uted through the High Yielding Technology Adoption (HYTA) program of DA in Kalinga and, distribution of good seeds and fertilizer from the Of in Bulacan and Davao del Sur,” the PSA noted.

and rainfed farms during the growth and reproductive stages of the crop in Cagayan, Zambales, Bohol and Surigao Norte also helped improve production, it added.

About 815,910 hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested.

On the planting intentions of farm been actually planted.

Corn production in April to June million MT, or 0.2 percent higher than the earlier forecast of 1.285 million higher than previous year’s level of 0.90 million MT.

However, the harvest area may have slightly decreased to 383.68 thousand hectares from 393.64 thousand hectares, while yield may improve to 3.36 MT per hectare from 3.26 MT per hectare.

“The probable increase in corn rainfall during the growth and reproductive stages of the crop in Sultan Kudarat, Bukidnon, Negros Occidental, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga and Quezon,” the PSA said.

The use of hybrid seeds in Mindoro Occidental and lesser incidence of pests and diseases in Sultan Kudarat and Mindoro Occidental may have contributed to higher output. In Nueva Ecija, some farmers opted to plant corn due to the renovation and construction of irrigation canals which may bring production to increase, the PSA noted.

About 300,050 hectares of the standing crop have been harvested. percent of the planting intentions in realized.