Non-food, industrial crops post mixed output in Q1

MANILA, Philippines — The production of major non-food and industrial crops posted mixed results in the first quarter, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its quarterly bulletin, the PSA reported that production of abaca fibers grew 2.4 percent to 15,870 metric tons (MT).

The major producer of abaca fiber was Bicol Region, accounting for 45.1 percent of the total production this quarter, the PSA said.

Coconut production grew a minimal 0.2 percent to 3.31 million MT, with the Davao region being the largest producer accounting for 14.4 percent of the country’s total production.

Similarly, the production of sugarcane in the country expanded by 14.6 percent in to 11.7 million MT.

“Sugarcane for centrifugal sugar accounted for 99 percent of the total sugarcane production, while the remaining one percent was accounted for by  sugarcane for ethanol, panocha/muscovado, chewing and basi/vinegar,” the PSA said.

Western Visayas remained the main producer of sugar cane, accounting for a total of 6.06 million MT or 51.7 percent of the total.

In contrast, coffee production in dried berries dropped 6.9 percent to 17,160 MT.

Among the types of coffee, Robusta coffee recorded the biggest production, making up 69.4 percent of the total. It was followed by Arabica (21 percent) and Excelsa (9 percent). Liberica was the least produced at 0.6 percent

The SOCCSKSARGEN region was the largest producer with a total of 5,430 MT or  31.7 percent of the total.

The production of rubber cup lump also declined by 3.4 percent to 45,740 MT.

SOCCKSARGEN was also the largest rubber producer with 19,290 MT or 42.2 percent of the total production.

Total tobacco production decreased 3.3 percent to 12,780 MT. The Ilocos region was the top producer of tobacco, accounting for  86.8 percent of the total

“Virginia tobacco was the most produced variety, accounting for 95.3 percent of the total. Native and other variety of tobacco shared only 2.5 percent and 2.2 percent to total, respectively,” the PSA said.