Palay production in the second quarter is estimated to have increased by 5.7% year on year, according to the latest evaluation of standing crops. The figure represents a notable uptick in output, which could have significant implications for the country's agricultural sector.
The Philippine Statistics Authority estimates that palay output for the second quarter reached 4.63 million metric tons (MMT) as of June 1. If these estimates hold true, the production total would narrowly miss the agency's forecast of 4.65 MMT issued in April.
The increase in palay production is attributed to a 6% year-on-year growth in land planted to the crop, reaching 1.03 million hectares. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare is now estimated at 4.49 MT, down from the previous estimate of 4.50 MT.
Corn output, on the other hand, is estimated to have fallen 0.3% year on year in the second quarter. The production total is now projected at 1.49 MMT, a downward revision from the April forecast of 1.57 MMT.
The area planted to corn increased by 3.4% year on year to 416.16 thousand hectares, but the yield per hectare is believed to have declined by 3.5% to 3.58 MT. As of now, 86% of the total area planted to corn has been harvested, yielding 1.32 MMT of corn.
