Slightly lower crops output seen in Q3

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s production of corn and palay (unhusked rice) is expected to slightly decline in the third quarter compared to earlier projections due to the effects of flash floods and pest infestations.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), palay production could have hit 3.38 million metric tons (MT) from July to September, a little less than the projected 3.39 million MT but 14 percent higher than the 2.97 million MT output in 2016.

“The probable reduction in palay production may be attributed to rat infestation in Davao del Sur and South Cotabato, as well as incidence of rice black bugs in Batangas and Sultan Kudarat,” PSA said.

There was also lodging of palay in Isabela caused by typhoon Jolina, effect of flash flood in Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and North Cotabato, and lower yield in Lanao del Sur.

Around 297,000 hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested while 1.6 million hectares or 87 percent of the planting intentions for the July to September 2017 harvests have been realized.

Of the 2.2 million hectares palay crop, 26 percent were in vegetative stage, 56 percent in reproductive stage and 18 percent in maturing stage.

Meanwhile, corn production for the third quarter was seen to have reached 2.63 million MT.

PSA sees decrease in output due to the flash flood in South Cotabato and strong winds during the vegetative and reproductive stages of corn coupled with locust infestation in Cebu.

It added there were frequent rains during the vegetative stage of corn in Quezon, rat infestations in Sarangani and South Cotabato, and effects of typhoon Jolina in Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora and typhoon Fabian in Negros Oriental.

About 548,000 hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested.

Around 384,000 hectares or 64 percent of the planting intentions for the July to September 2017 harvests have already been planted.