The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) granted clearance to the conduct of 2020 Crops Production Survey (CrPS) to be undertaken nationwide on a quarterly basis for the use of the government and the general public. It aims to generate basic production statistics for crops other than palay and corn, at the provincial, regional, and national levels. It covers more than 200 crops, 19 of which are considered major crops.

The 2020 CrPS targets six (6) to twenty five (25) farmers-producers and five (5)  large farms/plantations per crop per province to collect data on volume of production, area planted/harvested, and number of bearing trees/hills/vines. This undertaking will utilize a total budget of Php 49.9 million. The schedule of data collection and release of the 2020 CrPS results are as follows:

Key results from the 1st quarter 2020 were as follows:

1. The total banana production went down by 2.4 percent, from 2.11 million metric tons in January to March 2019 to 2.06 million metric tons during the same period in 2020. Davao Region had the largest share with 36.7 percent of total banana production. Cavendish banana variety contributed 56.2 percent of the total banana production at 1.2 million metric tons.
2. During the period January to March 2020, the production of mango was estimated at 94.07 thousand metric tons which slightly dropped by 0.9 percent from 94.92 thousand metric tons in the same quarter a year ago. The largest mango producer was Ilocos Region which contributed more than half of the total output with 48.60 thousand metric tons. The most produced mango variety was carabao mango which accounts 81.5 percent to the total mango production in the country.
3. Production of sugarcane increased by 6.9 percent from 11.72 thousand metric tons in January-March 2019 to 12.52 thousand metric tons in the same quarter of 2020.  Western Visayas was the top sugarcane producer with 6.59 thousand metric tons or 52.6 percent of the total production. Sugarcane for Centrifugal sugar was accounted for 99.0 percent of the total sugarcane production for this quarter.

The 2020 CrPS was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act(RA) No.10625 to:

• ensure sound design for data collection;
• minimize the burden placed upon respondents;
• effect economy in statistical data collection;
• eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and
• achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA enjoins the farmer-producers of crops to support the said statistical activity.

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division (SSD) of the Standards Service (SS) with telephone numbers (02) 8376-1928 and (02) 8376-1931, and email address ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph and ssdss.staff@gmail.com.

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) landing page.