Highlights

As of June 1, 2015, the updated production on standing palay crop for April-June 2015 may increase compared with the April 2015 Round forecasts. The increase could be traced to improvement in yield in irrigated areas as a result of availability of water supply during growing stage, more usage of hybrid seeds, lesser infestation of pests and more application of fertilizer. On the other hand, probable corn output may decrease compared with the earlier forecasts. This could be attributed to contraction of harvest area and drop in yield due to the adverse effects of dry spell, insufficient water supply, and incidence of pests in some provinces.

PALAY

• Palay production for April-June 2015 may reach 3.905 million MT, 0.10% more than the April 2015 round forecast of 3.902 million MT, but 4.1% lower than last year’s output of 4.07 million MT. Harvest area may contract from 0.92 million hectares to 0.91 million hectares. On the other hand, yield may improve from 4.25 MT per hectare to 4.27 MT per hectare.

• Probable increase in production are expected in Camarines Sur, Kalinga, Ifugao and Davao del Norte due to improvement in yield as a result of availability of water supply during the growing stage of the crop.
• In Nueva Ecija and Tarlac, more usage of hybrid seeds may increase the yield of palay crop. Lesser incidence of stemborer and rats in Davao Oriental and increased application of fertilizer in Zambales may bring about higher production.
• Around 815 thousand hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested. About 291 thousand hectares or 33.3% of the planting intentions for the July- September 2015 crop have been realized.
• Of the 390 thousand hectares standing palay crop, 50.9% were at vegetative stage, 26.2%, at reproductive stage and 22.9%, at maturing stage.

CORN

• Corn production for the second quarter of 2015 may reach 999 thousand MT, 2.9% below the earlier forecast of 1.03 million MT and 16.8% lower than last year’s level of 1.20 million MT. Harvest area may decline by 1.8%, from 336 thousand hectares to 330 thousand hectares. Yield may drop to 3.03 MT per hectare from 3.06 MT per hectare.

• The probable decrease in corn output could be traced to contraction in harvest area and drop in yield due to adverse effects of prolonged dry spell in Bukidnon, Albay, South Cotabato, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Sarangani, Misamis Oriental, Capiz, Misamis Occidental, Sultan Kudarat and Leyte. Infestation of rodents and birds in Sarangani and Leyte may contribute to the decrease in output.
• About 252 thousand hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested. Around 408 thousand hectares or 44.0% of the planting intentions for the July-September 2015 harvests have been materialized.
• Of  the updated 463 thousand hectares of standing corn crop, about 59.4% were at vegetative stage, 26.3%, at reproductive stage and 14.3%, at maturing stage.