Corn production in La Union grows in 1^st quarter 2024

Two types of corn (white corn and yellow corn) were grown in La Union in 1^st quarter 2023 and 1^st quarter 2024.  The volume of corn production increased by 0.16 percent in 1^st quarter 2024 at 25,197.17 metric tons from 25,157.41 metric tons in 1^st quarter 2023.

Likewise, the area harvested for corn increased by 0.20 percent from 4,291.25 hectares in 1^st quarter 2023 to 4,299.63 hectares in 1^st quarter 2024. The yield per hectare stood at 5.86 metric tons both in 1^st quarter 2023 and 1^st quarter 2024.

On the contrary, Ilocos Region’s volume of corn production went down in 1^st quarter 2024. A decrease of 4.02 percent was noted in the region’s volume of corn production from 387,213.06 metric tons in 1^st quarter 2023 to 371,660.85 metric tons in 1^st quarter 2024.

Among the provinces in Ilocos Region, La Union posted the least volume of corn production in 1^st quarter 2024 accounting to 6.78 percent (25,197.17 metric tons) of the total volume of corn production in the region. On the other hand, Pangasinan recorded the largest volume of corn production in the region with 65.79 percent share (244,504.00 metric tons). Ilocos Sur followed with 15.06 percent share (55,973.68 metric tons) and Ilocos Norte with 12.37 percent share (45,986.00 metric tons). 

Similar to the decline in corn output from 1^st quarter 2023 to 1^st quarter 2024 at the regional level, the corn output in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan also decreased by 20.55 percent, 1.25 percent and 0.22 percent. On the other hand, the corn output in the province of La Union grew by 0.16 percent.

Moreover, the area harvested for corn in Ilocos Region decreased by 4.43 percent from 63,323.25 hectares in 1^st quarter 2023 to 60,515.63 hectares in 1^st quarter 2024. Among the four provinces, La Union had the least share of 7.10 percent (4,299.63 hectares) to the total area harvested for corn in the region. Pangasinan occupied the biggest area harvested for corn with 63.92 percent share (38,684.00 hectares) followed by Ilocos Sur with 15.41 percent share (9,327.00 hectares) and Ilocos Norte with 13.56 percent share (8,205.00 hectares). (Figure 3)

Comparing the area harvested for corn in the 1^st quarter of 2024 with the same period a year ago, the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan recorded decreases of 19.91 percent, 1.62 percent, and 0.93 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, the area harvested for corn in the province of La Union increased by 0.20 percent.

STATISTICAL TABLES

TECHNICAL NOTES

Corn Production Survey (CPS) is a quarterly survey that generates estimates and forecasts data on production, area and yield of corn. The survey gathers information on the area planted/harvested and production by ecosystem and crop type; monthly distribution of production and area harvested; farm household disposition/utilization of production; area of standing crop; use of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides; and awareness and availment of program interventions.

Reference Periods

January Survey round – October to December

April Survey round – January to March

July Survey round – April to June

October Survey round – July to September

Production refers to the quantity produced and actually harvested for a particular crop during the reference period.

Area Harvested refers to the actual area from which harvest are realized during the reference period.

Irrigated Farms refer to area with irrigation facilities supplying water through artificial means like gravity, force/power, pump, etc. Irrigated area become rainfed only, when the irrigation system is no longer operational for the past two years and beyond repair and there is no plan of irrigating the farm.

Rainfed Farms refer to area that holds standing water but solely dependent on rainfall for its water supply. It may have dikes that retain rainwater. 

Yield refers to the measurement of the amount of agricultural production harvested per unit of land area.

SGD. DANITES E. TEÑIDO, PhD
Chief Statistical Specialist

/MAQ/MFC