The volume of palay production in the Ilocos Region registered lower growth in 1st quarter 2023 compared to its level a year ago. The production recorded at 323,001 metric tons, or 1.04 percent lower than the 326,411 metric tons output in 1st quarter 2022. The Ilocos Region ranked 5th among the regions accounted to 6.80 percent of the total palay production of the country in 1st quarter 2023.

As to the harvest area, the region also recorded a decrease of 1.96 percent or 65,911 hectares from the 67,228 hectares in 1st quarter 2022. About 99.03 percent were irrigated and the rest were rainfed. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare increased from 4.86 metric tons to 4.90 metric tons.

The provinces of Ilocos Norte and La Union recorded higher volume of palay production in 1st quarter 2023, while Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan posted contraction.

Pangasinan has the bulk of palay production among the provinces, contributing 71.48 percent of the total output of the region in 1st quarter 2023. The province posted a production of 230,899 metric tons during the period, lower than the output in 1st quarter 2022 of 236,457 metric tons. The area harvested also decreased by 2.86 percent from 49,199 hectares in 1st quarter 2022 to 47,791 hectares in the same period of 2023. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare improved from 4.81 metric tons in 1st quarter 2022 to 4.83 metric tons in 1st quarter 2023.

The province of Ilocos Norte, which shared 13.72 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 1st quarter 2023, recorded 44,316 metric tons output. This is 9.91 percent higher than the production of 40,320 metric tons in 1st quarter 2022. The harvest area during the period went up from 7,673 hectares to 7,919 hectares. The yield per hectare grew from 5.25 metric tons to 5.60 metric tons.

The volume of palay production in La Union registered 0.60 percent increase compared to its output in 1st quarter 2022. The recorded palay produce of the province in 1st quarter 2023 is 26,796 metric tons. The harvest area increased from 5,697 hectares to 5,800 hectares during the period. However, the yield per hectare went down from 4.68 metric tons in 1st quarter 2022 to 4.62 metric tons in 1st quarter 2023.

The province of Ilocos Sur, which shared 6.50 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 1st quarter 2023, recorded 20,990 metric tons during the period. The output was lower by 8.74 percent from the 22,999 metric tons record in 1st quarter 2022. The harvest area decreased from 4,659 hectares to 4,402 hectares. The yield per hectare also declined from 4.94 metric tons to 4.77 metric tons.

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN, CPA
Regional Director, RSSO I