Palay yield seen to decline in Q1

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s production of palay (unhusked rice) is seen to decline in the first quarter amid lesser planted areas.

Based on the latest crops outlook of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), palay production will decrease by 3.8 percent to 4.25 million metric tons (MT).

Output during the same period last year was 4.42 million MT.

The PSA increased this quarter’s projection from four million MT.

Harvest area for the quarter may contract by 4.8 percent to less than 1.1 million hectares.

Yield per hectare, on the other hand, may slightly rise to 3.87 MT from 3.83 MT.

Almost half or 49.2 percent of the updated standing crops had been harvested.

About 21.8 percent of the standing crop is at vegetative stage, 36.7 percent at reproductive stage, and 41.5 percent at maturing stage.

As for the farmer’s planting intentions for the period, about 652,980 hectares or 65 percent of the perceived area have been actually planted.

Meanwhile, corn production for the quarter is expected to drop by 0.9 percent to 2.4 million MT.

The latest projection is just slightly higher than the 2.39 million MT earlier forecast.

This as harvest area may decline to 698,970 hectares from 706,260 hectares in 2019.

Yield per hectare may slightly increase to 3.44 MT from 3.43 MT.

Around 466,200 hectares or 66.7 percent of the updated standing crop had been harvested.

With reference to the farmer’s planting intentions, 264,710 hectares or 64.8 percent of the area have been planted.