Palay, corn production may still post higher growth in Q1

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s palay (unhusked rice) and corn production may still post higher growth in the first quarter, but this has been lowered due to the typhoons that hit the country at the tail end of 2017.

Latest crops outlook of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed palay production for the January to March period may reach 4.59 million MT, four percent higher than the 4.42 million MT output recorded last year.

However, the latest projection is two percent lower than the 4.67 million MT forecast in the January round.

Harvest area may contract by 3,057 hectares, while yield may decline to 3.86 MT per hectare from 3.92 MT level.

PSA said possible factors contributing to the decrease of palay output include the effects of Typhoons Urduja in Capiz and Vinta in Zamboanga Sibugay, Davao del Norte, and North Cotabato in December last year.

“There is also foreseen decrease in yield due to the occurrence of heavy rains in Isabela, Oriental Mindoro, Leyte and Sultan Kudarat, and rice bug infestation in Tarlac, Iloilo and South Cotabato,” PSA said.

Around 560,000 hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested, while 822,000 hectares or 90 percent of the planting intentions for the April to June 2018 harvests have been planted.

Of the standing palay crop, 21 percent were at vegetative stage, 43 percent at reproductive stage, and 36 percent at maturing stage.

For the second quarter, PSA earlier said planting intentions might be affected by the earlier decision to plant during the fourth quarter of 2017 and moving the harvest earlier in the first quarter since farmers are apprehensive of unpredictable weather.

Nevertheless, PSA is expecting yield to increase due to anticipation of sufficient water supply from irrigation and sustained distribution of good quality seeds from the government.

Meanwhile, corn production for the first quarter may reach 2.46 million MT, a one percent decrease from the January round forecast of 2.49 million MT but is four percent higher from the 2.37 million MT level in 2017.

Harvest area may slightly decline by a minimal 0.1 percent from the 721,000 hectares level as yield per hectare may also drop to 3.42 MT per hectare from 3.45 MT per hectare.

PSA attributed the possible decrement in corn output to the effects of typhoon, plant hopper infestation, and the continuous rains in some areas which affected plant growth at reproductive and maturing stages.

Around 448,000 hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested while 310,000 hectares or 77 percent of the planting intentions for the period have been realized.

Of the standing corn crop, 21 percent were at vegetative, 35 percent at reproductive stage, and 45 percent at maturing stage.

Moreover, PSA expects lower production at the start of the second quarter as farmers are pessimistic to plant due to expectations of unfavorable weather, limited seeds, and insufficient soil moisture.

Final palay and corn production for the first quarter is expected to be released by the second week of May.