Palay, corn output expected to drop in 4th quarter

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s production of palay (unhusked rice) and corn will continue to incur setbacks in the last quarter of the year due to delayed plantings and effects of recent weather disturbances.

Based on the latest crops outlook of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), palay production from October to December may reach 7.22 million metric tons (MT), down 1.3 percent from the 7.32 million MT output in the same period last year.

Harvest area may shrink by a percentage to 1.85 million hectares and yield may slightly decline to 3.91 MT per hectare from the previous year’s level of 3.93 MT per hectare.

Around 1.12 million hectares or 61 percent of the updated standing crop have been harvested.

As for the farmer’s planting intentions for the quarter, about 314,630 hectares or 27 percent of the perceived area have been actually planted.

Meanwhile, corn production for the October to December period may reach 1.81 million MT, 11 percent higher from the previous year’s level of 1.63 million MT.

This as harvest area may rise by seven percent to 611,720 hectares and yield may improve to 2.97 MT per hectare from 2.85 MT per hectare last year.

Around 234,140 hectares or 38 percent of the updated standing crop have been harvested.

With reference to the farmer’s planting intentions from October to December, about 250,000 hectares or 35 percent have been planted.

Meanwhile, price of Filipinos’ main staple continues to go down following the arrival of imports and the peak of main harvest season after consecutive months of increase.

In its regular update on palay, rice and corn prices, PSA said the average wholesale price of well-milled rice on a weekly basis decreased 0.26 percent to P42.43 per kilogram during the first week of December.

Its weekly average retail price also decreased by one percent to P45.93 per kilo, but year-on-year price is up nine percent.