Fruit output down in Q1

MANILA, Philippines — Production of the country’s major fruit crops continued its decline in the first quarter due to El Niño phenomenon, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Latest data from the PSA showed banana production fell 1.37 percent to 2.11 million metric tons (MT) owing to lower number of bearing hills harvested following damages caused by typhoons during the latter half of 2018.

Smaller sizes of fruits were also developed in some areas due to the hot weather condition and a fewer number of bearing hills was harvested because of the occurrence of Moko disease.

Pineapple production decreased by a minimal 0.04 percent to 621,370 MT as some areas were not planted as  well as due to hot weather.

Production of mango fell  three percent to 94,920 MT as lesser fruits were harvested in Ilocos Region because of the incidence of capsid bug and cecid flies.

In Central Luzon, lesser fruits were also developed due to the effect of monsoon rains during flowering stage.

Meanwhile, calamansi production inched up one percent to 14,950 MT due to bigger sizes of fruits developed because of lesser incidence of fruit flies in the Calabarzon.

In addition, there was an increase in yield in Mimaropa caused by the lesser occurrence of rain during fruiting stage.