Palay production in the first quarter of the year rose by 0.3 percent, reaching 4.7 million metric tons, with yields setting a new record high. This increase helped offset a decline in the area planted with rice.
The growth in palay production signals positive developments for both the agricultural sector and the broader economy. The Department of Agriculture (DA) is aiming for a record palay output of 20.46 million metric tons this year.
According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Central Luzon emerged as the top producer, contributing 808,600 metric tons, or 17 percent of the total production during the quarter. Cagayan Valley followed with 640,430 metric tons, while Western Visayas added 549,510 metric tons. Together, these three regions accounted for 42.5 percent of the national palay output.
The total area harvested for palay from January to March was estimated at 1.15 million hectares, a 2.3 percent decline from the 1.17 million hectares harvested in the same period last year when a drought was stoked by El Niño. The increase in palay output despite the decline in areas planted to rice reflects improvements in yield due to better water supply and interventions by the DA.
Western Visayas led in harvested area with 169,590 hectares, followed by Central Luzon with 157,110 hectares and Cagayan Valley with 127,000 hectares.
Palay yield per hectare in the first quarter was recorded at 4.09 metric tons, a 2.7 percent increase from the 3.99 metric tons per hectare achieved in the same period last year. This marks the highest yield ever recorded since the series began in 1987.
Central Luzon posted the highest yield in the first quarter, with 5.15 metric tons per hectare, followed by Cagayan Valley at 5.04 metric tons and the Ilocos Region at 4.96 metric tons per hectare.
