Palay output grows by 7.2% in Q1 – PSA

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s production of palay or unhusked rice is seen to have grown 7.2 percent in the first three months, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Estimates from the PSA show that palay production likely rose to 4.57 million metric tons (MT) from 4.26 million MT in the same period last year.

The figure, however, is 0.3 percent lower than the PSA’s initial production forecast of 4.58 million MT for the first quarter.

Harvest area is seen to have increased by 4.6 percent from 1.098 million hectares, while yield per hectare likely grew to 3.98 MT from 3.88 MT.

About 527,310 hectares or 49.8 percent of the updated standing crop had been harvested and 790,730 MT or 85 percent of the perceived area had been actually planted.

Of the total area of standing palay to be harvested for the second quarter of 2021, 24.2 percent was at vegetative stage, 38.4 percent at reproductive stage and 37.4 percent at maturing stage.

The PSA also reported that corn production may have reached 2.5 million MT, up nine percent.

The figure, however, is lower than the earlier projection of 2.53 million MT.

Harvest area is seen to have increased to 700,400 hectares from 688,830 hectares, while yield per hectare may increase to 3.57 MT from 3.36 MT in the same period last year.

The PSA reported that around 451,250 hectares or 59.3 percent of the updated standing crop had been harvested.

Of the actual corn harvested, 171,501 hectares were for white corn, while 243,748 hectares were for yellow corn.

Around 285,210 hectares or 71.4 percent of the perceived area had actually been planted during the period.

Of the total 561,480 hectares of standing crop to be harvested in April to June, 24.9 percent was at vegetative stage, 30.9 percent at reproductive stage and 44.2 percent at maturing stage.