Industrial crops output up in Q3

MANILA, Philippines — The expansion of planting areas has improved the growth of some of the country’s top industrial crops in the third quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

The top industrial crops are coconut, abaca, coffee, rubber, sugarcane and tobacco.

In its latest major non-food and industrial crops bulletin, PSA said coconut production improved by six percent to 4.06 million metric tons as additional bearing trees were harvested and more nuts developed due to sufficient rainfall during nut formation.

Sugarcane production grew 29 percent to 1.01 million MT while centrifugal sugar production,which accounted for 89 percent of the total sugarcane production, also went up.

The improvement in output was attributed to the early start of milling operations as more harvestable canes were reported as a result of early plantings last year and higher price of the commodity.

Western Visayas remains the top sugar producing region in the country, taking up 84 percent of the national sugarcane output during the period.

Rubber production rose seven percent to 112,960 MT due to the increase in the number of tappable trees and more latex produced amid sufficient rainfall.

Production of abaca fiber likewise went up by six percent to 19,090 MT owing to more harvests that were attributed to higher price and good quality of fibers produced through proper management.

Bicol region was the top abaca producer, accounting for 41 percent of the country’s total production. Eastern Visayas came in second with 20 percent and Davao (14 percent).

Coffee production inched up by a measly one percent to 5,810 MT due to more berries developed amid proper farm management and distribution of seedlings by the government.

Of the total, 66 percent were Robusta, 29 percent Arabica, seven percent Excelsa, and one percent Liberica. Davao was the country’s top-producing region.

Production of tobacco increased by one percent to 1,160 MT owing to the expansion in area planted.  This was driven by the higher price of native tobacco and contract growing with private corporations.

Northern Mindanao accounted for nearly all the tobacco output for the quarter at 99 percent.