HIGHLIGHTS

The updated estimates of January to March 2021 palay and corn production based on standing crop as of 01 March 2021 may decrease from their initial estimates as of 01 January 2021, but may increase from their January to March final estimates in the previous year.

PALAY

1. Based on standing crop as of 01 March 2021 (updated), the probable palay production for the period January to March 2021 may decrease to 4.57 million metric tons or by -0.3 percent from the initial estimate of 4.58 million metric tons as of 01 January 2021. The updated January to March 2021 estimated palay production indicates a possible uptrend of 7.2 percent, from previous year’s same period output of 4.26 million metric tons. (Table 1 and Figure 1)

Figure 1. Palay: January-March Crop Production Estimates 2020-2021

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Monthly Palay and Corn Situation Reporting System (MPCSRS

2. Harvest  area  may  increase  by  4.6  percent,  from 1,098.44 thousand hectares final estimate for January to March 2020. Yield per hectare may increase to 3.98 metric tons, from 3.88 metric tons in the same period of previous year. (Table 1)

3. About 572.31 thousand hectares or 49.8 percent of the updated standing crop have been harvested. (Tables 1 and 2)

4. As for the farmer’s planting intentions for January to March 2021, 790.73 thousand hectares or 85.0 percent of the perceived area have been actually planted. (Table 3)

5. Of  the total area of standing palay to be harvested  for the period April-June 2021, 24.2 percent were at the vegetative stage, 38.4 percent at the reproductive stage, and 37.4 percent at the maturing stage. (Table 4 and Figure 2)

Figure 2. Palay: Area of Standing Crop by Stage of Development as of 01 March 2021

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Monthly Palay and Corn Situation Reporting System (MPCSRS)

CORN

1. The probable corn production for period January to March 2021, based on standing crop as of 01 March 2021 (updated), may reach 2.50 million metric tons, lower than the estimated corn production of 2.53 million metric tons as of 01 January 2021. The updated estimate of corn production for January to March 2021 may be higher by 9.0 percent from the previous year’s same period level of 2.30 million metric tons. (Table 5 and Figure 3)

Figure 3. Corn: January-March Crop Production Estimates 2020-2021

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Monthly Palay and Corn Situation Reporting System (MPCSRS)

2. Harvest area may increase to 700.40 thousand hectares, from the final estimate of 683.83 thousand hectares for January to March 2020. Yield per hectare may increase to 3.57 metric tons from 3.36 metric tons in the same period of the previous year. (Table 5)

3. About 415.25 thousand hectares or 59.3 percent of the updated standing crop has been harvested. (Tables 5 and 6)

4. Around 285.21 thousand hectares or 71.4 percent of the planting intentions for January to March 2021 crop have been realized. (Table 7)

5. Of the total area of 561.48 thousand hectares of standing crop for the April to June 2021 harvests, 24.9 percent were at vegetative stage, 30.9 percent at reproductive stage, and 44.2 percent at maturing stage. (Table 8 and Figure 4).

Figure 4. Corn: Area of Standing Crop by Stage of Development as of 01 March 2021

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Monthly Palay and Corn Situation Reporting System (MPCSRS)

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