Palay, corn output seen lower in Q2

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s production of palay (unhusked rice) and corn will likely drop in the second quarter of 2019 due to the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon that hit the country.

Based on the latest crops outlook of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), palay production for April to June 2019 will drop 5.6 percent to reach 3.86 million metric tons (MT).

Output during the same period last year totalled 4.09 million MT.

The PSA lowered the quarter’s projection from the 3.89 million MT earlier forecast in April.

This as harvest area for the quarter may contract by two percent to 914,460 hectares from 932,790 hectares.

Yield per hectare may also decrease to 4.22 MT from 4.38 MT in the previous year level.

About 89.2 percent of the updated standing crop of more than 900,000 hectares have been harvested.

More than half or about 55 percent of the 413,050 hectares of standing crop were at vegetative stage, 24 percent at reproductive stage, and 21 percent at maturing stage.

As to farmers’ planting intention, 314,890 hectares or 38 percent of perceived harvest area for the July to September period have been planted already.

Meanwhile, corn production for the quarter is also expected to post a 10.2 percent decrease to 1.15 million MT from the 1.28 million MT recorded last year.

The latest projection is lower than the 1.17 million MT earlier forecast.

This as harvest area may be reduced to 374,840 hectares from 392,360 hectares in 2018.

Yield per hectare may likewise decrease to 3.08 MT from 3.27 MT.

Of the 374,840 hectares updated standing crop, 78 percent have been harvested.

About 70 percent of the 652,410 hectares standing crop were at vegetative stage, 17 percent at reproductive stage, and the remaining 13 percent were at maturing stage.

More than half or 66 percent of the planting intentions of the farmers for the second quarter have been realized.