The volume of palay production in the Ilocos Region registered higher growth in 1^st quarter 2022 compared to its level a year ago. The production recorded at 326,411 metric tons, or 1.26 percent higher than the 322,359 metric tons output in 1^st quarter 2021. The Ilocos Region ranked 5^th accounted to 7.19 percent of the total palay production of the country in 1^st quarter 2022.

As to the harvest area, the region recorded an increase of 1.15 percent or 67,228 hectares from the 66,467 hectares in 1^st quarter 2021. About 99.04 percent were irrigated and the rest were rainfed. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare increased from 4.85 metric tons to 4.86 metric tons.

All the provinces of the region, except Ilocos Sur, posted higher volume of palay production in 1^st quarter 2022.

Figure 2. Palay Production (MT) by Province, Ilocos Region
1^st Quarter 2021 and 1^st Quarter 2022

Pangasinan has the bulk of palay production among the provinces, contributing 72.44 percent of the total output of the region in 1^st quarter 2022. The province posted a production of 236,457 metric tons during the period, higher than the output in 1^st quarter 2021 of 231,424 metric tons. The area harvested also increased by 1.62 percent from 48,415 hectares in 1^st quarter 2021 to 49,199 hectares in the same period of 2022. Moreover, the yield per hectare improved from 4.78 metric tons in 1^st quarter 2021 to 4.81 metric tons in 1^st quarter 2022.

Figure 3. Percentage Distribution of Volume of Palay Production
by Province, Ilocos Region: 1^st Quarter 2022

The province of Ilocos Norte, which shared 12.35 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 1^st quarter 2022, recorded 40,320 metric tons output. This is 5.90 percent higher than the production of 38,075 metric tons in 1^st quarter 2021. The harvest area during the period went up from 7,335 hectares to 7,673 hectares. The yield per hectare grew from 5.19 metric tons to 5.25 metric tons.

The volume of palay production in La Union registered 5.10 percent increase compared to its output in 1^st quarter 2021. The recorded palay produce of the province in 1^st quarter 2022 is 26,653 metric tons. The harvest area increased from 5,629 hectares to 5,697 hectares during the period. Moreover, the yield per hectare also went up from 4.50 metric tons in 1^st quarter 2021 to 4.68 metric tons in 1^st quarter 2022.

The province of Ilocos Sur, which shared 7.05 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 1^st quarter 2022, recorded 22,999 metric tons during the period. The output was lower by 16.42 percent from the 27,517 metric tons record in 1^st quarter 2021. The harvest area decreased from 5,088 hectares to 4,659 hectares. The yield per hectare also declined from 5.41 metric tons to 4.94 metric tons.

Table 1. Palay Production Estimates by Province
Ilocos Region: 1^st Quarter 2021 and 1^st Quarter 2022

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN

Regional Director, RSSO I