Corn output declines in Q3 due to typhoons

Corn production in the third quarter this year declined 4.97 percent due to the adverse effects of three major typhoons, a reduction in the use of fertilizers and farmers shifting to other crops, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and Ginintuang Masaganang Ani-Corn National Program Coordinator Dennis Araullo said in a report.

But he pointed out that overall growth in the first three quarters still managed to post a growth of 3.12 percent as 19.2 percent growth in the first quarter and the 24.1 percent growth in the second quarter managed to offset the third quarter production slump.

Based on the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics’ corn crop estimates and forecast data this year, corn production will increase from 6.736 million metric tons to 6.947 MMT, a 3.12 percent growth rate.

In terms of production, Region I’s share from the national output is around 363, 618 MT on a growth rate of 8.36 percent.

Region I registered a 3.20 percent increase in area harvested with 2,305 additional hectares.

Cagayan Valley has the biggest share of production with 1.478 MT this year.

On area harvested, the country had a minimal increase in area harvested of 8,123 hectares or 0.31 percent.

The GMA-Corn Program hopes to expand its corn production area in the succeeding year with an additional 1.4 million hectares that would come from conversion of rain-fed rice areas to corn.

As to productivity, the BAS forecasts an increased minimum yield from 2.54 metric ton per hectare (MT/ha) to 2.64 MT/ha for 2008.