The Philippine Statistics Authority said its latest third quarter agricultural estimates showed a decline in rice production due to a decrease in planted areas.
For corn output, however, the PSA projected an increase due to higher yield.
According to data as of 1 September, palay production is projected to fall to 3.35 million metric tons, an 12 percent decrease from the 3.80 million metric tons harvested during the same period in 2023.
Lower rice production is due to a decrease in the estimated harvest area, which is expected to shrink to 796,280 hectares, down 14 percent from last year. However, the yield per hectare for palay is anticipated to rise slightly to 4.20 metric tons, a 2.4 percent increase from the previous year’s yield of 4.10 metric tons.
In contrast to the rice sector, corn production is projected to reach 2.53 million metric tons, representing a 2.4 percent increase from 2.47 million metric tons harvested in the same period last year. This growth is supported by increased yield.
The harvest area for corn is projected to decrease by 2.0 percent to 806,360 hectares. The yield per hectare for corn is expected to improve, with estimates suggesting an increase to 3.13 metric tons, up 4.3 percent.
As of 1 September, some 346,230 hectares, or 43 percent of the updated corn harvest area, have been harvested, contributing to a total corn output of 1.07 million metric tons. The remaining corn crop is predominantly in the maturing stage, with 87 percent yet to be harvested.
The contrasting trends in rice and corn production highlight the dynamic nature of agricultural outputs and underscore the importance of adaptive strategies for farmers.
