Corn output slightly down in first quarter of 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s production of palay (unhusked rice) and corn is seen to decline in the first quarter due to the effects of weather disturbances at the tail end of last year.

Based on the latest crops outlook of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), palay production is expected to slightly go down to 4.62 million metric tons (MT) in January to March.

The PSA projection is lower than the Department of Agriculture’s expected production of 4.7 million MT.

Harvest area is forecast to contract by 3.3 percent from 1.19 million hectares last year.

However, yield per hectare may increase to four MT from 3.87 MT a year ago.

About 19.8 percent of the updated standing crop of 1.15 million hectares had already been harvested.

According to the PSA, about 46.3 percent of the 1.66 million hectares of standing crop were still at vegetative stage, 37.9 percent at reproductive stage, and 15.7 percent at maturing stage.

Meanwhile, corn production is expected to grow 2.6 percent to 2.54 million MT.

Harvest area may be reduced to 709,240 hectares from 722,460 hectares in 2018.

However, yield per hectare may increase to 3.58 MT from 3.43 MT.

Around 241,740 hectares or 34 percent of the updated standing crop had been harvested.