HIGHLIGHTS

The updated January to March 2021 production on palay based on standing crop as of 01 February 2021 may be slightly greater than the January to March 2021 forecasts. On the other hand, the probable corn output may be lower than the January to March 2021 forecasts. Both the updated production on palay and corn based on standing crop as of 01 February 2021 may increase from January to March 2020 final estimates.

PALAY

1. Based on standing crop as of 01 February 2021 (updated), the probable palay production may increase to 4.583 million metric tons or by 0.04 percent from the initial estimate of 4.581 million metric tons as of 01 January 2021. The updated January to March 2021 estimated palay production indicates a possible uptrend of 7.5 percent, from previous year’s same period output of 4.261 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 from Jan to Mar 2020. Yield per hectare may increase to 3.99 metric tons, from 3.88 metric tons in the same period of previous year. (Table 1)

3. About 259.71 thousand hectares or 22.6 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, 593.94 thousand hectares or 63.9 percent of the perceived area have been actually planted. (Table 3)

5. Of the total area of standing palay to be harvested for April-June 2021, 42.8 percent were at the vegetative stage, 35.1 percent at the reproductive stage, and 22.1 percent at the maturing stage. (Table 4 and Figure 2)

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

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

CORN

1. The probable corn production for January to March 2021, based on standing crop as of 01 February 2021 (updated), may reach to 2.52 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 9.6 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 699.97 thousand hectares, from 683.83 thousand hectares from Jan to Mar 2020. Yield per hectare may increase to 3.60 metric tons, from the 3.36 metric tons in the same period of previous year. (Table 5)

3. About 244.10 thousand hectares or 34.9 percent of the updated standing crop has been harvested. (Tables 5 and 6)

4. Around 188.99 thousand hectares or 47.3 percent of the planting intentions for January to March 2021 crop have been realized. (Table 7)

5. Of the total area of 635.99 thousand hectares of standing crop for the April to June 2021 harvests, 30.1 percent were at vegetative stage, 38.9 percent at reproductive stage, and 31.0 percent at maturing stage. (Table 8 and Figure 4).

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