Palay, corn output up in Q1

Domestic production of staple grain palay (unhusked rice) and corn increased year-on-year in the first quarter of the year on increased yield per hectare, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday.

Palay production in the January to March period was placed at 4.37 million metric tons (MT), up 1.41 percent to the comparative period last year. Harvest area contracted to 1.15 million hectares from 1.16 million hectares last year. Yield per hectare, however, rose 2.27 percent to 3.80 MT from 3.72 MT last year.

Significant increments in production were noted in MIMAROPA, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Ilocos Region.

In MIMAROPA, sustained usage of hybrid and certified seeds improved yield.

Stable supply of irrigation water and increased usage of hybrid and certified seeds, meanwhile, increased yield in Cagayan Valley, Bulacan, Zambales and Aurora.

PSA said the restoration of irrigation systems in La Union and Pangasinan as well as the availability of subsidized seeds, improved yields in the provinces.

Palay production in the second quarter of the year, however, is expected to fall 4.21 percent to 3.90 million MT. Harvest area may contract from 939,000 hectares to 918,000 hectares. Yield per hectare may drop to 4.25 MT from 4.34 MT per hectare in 2014.

In SOCSKSARGEN, several palay production areas in the vegetative stage were damaged by the dry spell. There were delayed planting activities in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat due to temporary closure of some government irrigation facilities.

Cutbacks in harvest area are also expected in MIMAROPA, Central Luzon and Bicol Region due to insufficient water supply and intense heat in most of the provinces.

In Western Visayas, contraction in harvest area may be attributed to insufficient water supply and shifting to other crops such as mongo and watermelon.

In Northern Mindanao, the ongoing rehabilitation of irrigation canals and the dry spell may reduce plantings in irrigated and rainfed areas.

Yield of standing crops in Caraga may be affected by insufficient soil moisture and incidence of black bugs and leaf blight.

Corn production in the January to March period, meanwhile, was placed at 2.37 million MT, 3.97 percent higher than 2.28 million MT the same period in 2014. Harvest area expanded to 715,000 hectares from 705,000 hectares last year.