HIGHLIGHTS

The updated January-March 2019 production estimates on palay and corn based on standing crop as of 01 February 2019 may decline from the January 2019 Round estimates.

PALAY

• The probable palay production for January-March 2019, based on standing crop, may decrease to 4.62 million metric tons, 0.6 percent  below the January  2019  round  estimate of 4.65 million metric tons. This may be lower by 0.1 percent from the previous year’s output of 4.62 million metric tons (Figure 1). Harvest area may contract by 3.3 percent from 1,194.86 thousand hectares in 2018. However, yield per hectare may increase to 4.00 metric tons from 3.87 metric tons in the previous year level.

• About 19.8 percent of the updated standing crop of 1,155.41 thousand hectares have been harvested.
• About 46.3 percent of 1,661.61 thousand hectares of standing crop were still at vegetative stage, 37.9 percent at reproductive stage, and 15.7 percent at maturing stage (Figure 2).
• As for the farmer’s planting intentions for January-March  2019, about 735.13 thousand hectares or 77.5 percent of the perceived area to be planted have been actually planted.

CORN

• Corn production for January-March 2019, based on standing  crop,  may  contract to 2.54 million metric tons, down by 0.3 percent from the 2.55 million metric tons estimate in January  2019.  This  is  higher by 2.6 percent from the previous year’s level of 2.48 million metric tons (Figure 3). Harvest area may reduce to 709.24 thousand hectares from 722.46 thousand hectares in 2018. However, yield per hectare may increase to 3.58 metric tons from 3.43 metric tons.

• Around 241.74 thousand hectares or 34.1 percent of the updated standing crop have been harvested
• Of the 727.41 thousand hectares of standing crop, 32.4 percent were at vegetative stage, 36.6 percent at reproductive stage, and 31.0 percent at maturing stage (Figure 4).
• Around 259.91 thousand hectares or 62.4 percent of the planting intentions for January-March 2019 crop have been realized.

ROSALINDA P. BAUTISTA
(Director ll)
Officer-in-Charge
Sectoral Statistics Office