Palay, corn output to increase
MANILA, Philippines - Rice and corn production for the first quarter of 2016 is expected to post a slight increase based on farmers’ planting intentions, the Department of Agriculture said.
The January-March 2016 forecasts indicate an increase of 0.31 percent to 4.38 million MT in 2016 from 4.37 million metric tons (MT) in 2015 as the increment may come from the expansion in harvest area by 1.15 percent.
The production of corn is also anticipated to increase 0.48 percent to 2.38 million MT in 2016 from 2.37 million MT in 2015 as higher outputs are expected in Soccsksargen, Ilocos Region, Davao Region and Northern Mindanao.
A special fund for El Niño mitigation worth P2.1 billion from DA would help increase the production in the first quarter.
The fund would be used for water management, repair of small scale facilities, procurement of seeds, procurement of pumps and engines, conduct of cloud seeding operation, and for rice and corn high value crops.
Meanwhile, output for palay and corn this year is expected to be lower compared to 2014 due to the adverse effects of the El Niño phenomenon and typhoons.
Palay production for 2015 is seen at 18.3 million MT, 3.54 percent below the 2014 output of 18.97 million MT as several regions reported reductions in production and harvest area.
These were attributed to unrealized plantings as a result of delayed release and inadequate irrigation water, late occurrence of rains, and some areas left in-fallow.
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