Higher palay output seen in Q1

THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the country’s palay (unmilled rice) production may reach 4.57 million metric tons (mt) in the first three months of 2021, significantly higher than the actual output in the same period last year.

In its report titled “Updates on Palay and Corn Estimates,” the PSA revised its earlier estimate of 4.581 million MT for the January to March period, representing a possible slight decrease of 0.3 percent.

If achieved, however, the latest estimate will translate to a 7.20 percent increment from the palay output of 4.26 million MT in the first quarter of 2020.

PSA retained its earlier forecast on harvest area that is expected to decrease by 4.6 percent from 1.098 million hectares achieved in January to March 2020. Likewise, yield per hectare may still increase to 3.99 MT from 3.88 MT year-on-year.

About 572,310 hectares, or 49.8 percent of the updated standing crop have been harvested, the statistics agency said.

Of the total, 38.4 percent were at reproductive stage, 24.2 percent at vegetative stage and 37.4 percent at maturing stage.

As for planting intentions for the first quarter of 2021, PSA said about 85 percent, or 790,730 hectares have been actually planted.

In the same report, PSA said it revised its earlier estimate on corn production for January to March based on standing crop as of March 1, which is seen to reach 2.50 million MT, as compared to the 2.53 million MT January estimate. The latest estimate, however, would be higher by 9 percent from 2.30 million MT of corn produced last year.

Harvest area may increase to 700,400 hectares from the earlier estimate of 683,830 hectares. Yield per hectare, meanwhile, may reach 3.57 MT as compared to 3.36 MT recorded a year ago.

About 415,250 hectares, or 59.3 percent of the updated standing crop have been harvested.

“Of the total area of 561.48 thousand hectares of standing crop for April to June 2021 harvests, 24.9 percent were at vegetative stage, 30.9 percent were at reproductive stage and 44.2 percent at maturing stage,” PSA said.

Around 285,210 hectares, or 71.4 percent of the planting intentions have been realized, it added.