Lower palay harvest seen in Q1

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s production of palay (unhusked rice) is expected to decline by 9.5 percent in the first quarter amid lesser areas and lower yield.

Based on the latest crops outlook of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), palay production decreased to 4.42 million metric tons (MT) from January to March.

The PSA reduced this quarter’s projection from the 4.28 million MT forecast in January.

Harvest area for the quarter may contract by 3.7 percent to less than 1.1 million hectares.

Yield per hectare, on the other hand, is also seen to  decrease to 3.6 MT from 3.83 MT.

About 25.8 percent of the updated standing crop of more than 1.11 million hectares had been harvested.

About 40.8 percent of the 1.3 million hectares of standing crop were at vegetative stage, 37.8  percent at reproductive stage, and 21.5 percent at maturing stage.

As for the farmer’s planting intentions for the period, about 484,650 hectares or 48.2 percent of the perceived area have been actually planted.

Meanwhile, corn production for the quarter is expected to decline by 1.3 percent to 2.39  million MT.

The latest projection is lower than the 2.43 million MT forecast. This harvest area may go down to 700,200 hectares from 706,260 hectares in 2019.

With reference to the farmer’s planting intentions, 194,290 hectares or 47.6 percent of the area have been planted.