Philippines' Palay and Corn Production Sees Uptick in Second Quarter

PRODUCTION of palay (unmilled rice) in the second quarter rose 5.7% year on year, while corn output rising 0.8%, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported. The PSA reported that palay output was 4.63 million metric tons (MMT), roughly level with PSA’s estimate that had been based on an evaluation of the standing crop. The palay was harvested across 1.04 million hectares, up 6.5% year on year. The PSA had forecast the harvest to take place on 1.03 million hectares. Corn output for the second quarter was 1.51 MMT, exceeding the PSA’s 1.49 MMT estimate. Corn was harvested from 416.79 thousand hectares, up 3.5% year on year. The PSA had projected the harvested area to be 416.16 thousand hectares. Cagayan Valley was the top palay producer in the second quarter with 1.20 MMT, and was also the top corn producing region at 497.62 thousand metric tons (MT). Nueva Ecija was the top palay producing province in the second quarter with 752.75 thousand MT, while Isabela topped the provinces in corn production with 238.88 thousand MT. Arnel V. De Mesa, Agriculture spokesman and assistant secretary for Special Concerns and Official Development Assistance, told reporters that rising year-on-year production was due to repairs to the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS), with strong palay prices boosting planting. “Firstly, the 30,000 hectares that were (left unirrigated) in UPRIIs… in the fourth and first quarters have been restored, so that’s quite big,” Mr. De Mesa told reporters. “Second, the planting intentions of farmers (were boosted by) very strong palay prices during the dry season harvest,” he added, noting that they can be expected to continue planting this season. — Marron Joshua F. Mendoza