By Lilybeth Ison/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Palay and corn production in the second quarter of the current year may decline based on standing crops, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Palay production for April-June 2019 may decrease to 3.86 million metric tons (MT), or lower by 5.6 percent from its previous year’s level of 4.09 million MT.
Of the 914,460 hectares updated standing crop, some 89.2 percent have been harvested. By stage of development, more than half or 54.7 percent of the 413,050 hectares standing crop were at vegetative stage, 24.3 percent at reproductive stage, and 20.9 percent at maturing stage.
As to farmers’ planting intention, 314,890 hectares or 37.6 percent of perceived harvest area for July-September have been actually planted.
As of June 1, the total rice stocks inventory was recorded at 2.598.34 million MT. Rice stocks inventory level in the households and commercial warehouses were down by 4.2 percent and 21.0 percent, respectively.
On the other hand, corn production for April-June 2019 may decline to 1.15 million MT or by 1.5 percent from the April round estimate of 1.17 million MT.
Compared with the corn production in the same period of the previous year of 1.28 million MT, the April-June 2019 corn production may be lower by 10.2 percent.
Harvest area may also decrease to 374,840 hectares, from 392,360 hectares last year. Yield per hectare may also decline from 3.27 MT in 2018 to 3.08 MT this year.
Of the 374,840 hectares updated standing crop, some 77.9 percent have been harvested.
The total corn stocks inventory as of June 1 was 859,770 MT. It grew by 45.2 percent compared with the June 2018 inventory level of 592,010 MT.
Increments were noted in the households and commercial warehouses by 71.7 percent and 43.0 percent, respectively.
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