The volume of palay production in the Ilocos Region registered lower growth in 1st quarter 2024 compared to its level in the same period in 2023. The production recorded at 316,024 metric tons, or 2.2 percent lower than the 323,001 metric tons output in 1st quarter 2023. Ilocos Region ranked 6th among the regions sharing 4.6 percent to the total palay production of the country in 1st quarter 2024.

As to the harvest area, the region recorded a decrease of 3.0 percent or 63,934 hectares from the 65,911 hectares in 1st quarter 2023. About 99.5 percent were irrigated and the rest were rainfed. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare increased from 4.90 metric tons to 4.94 metric tons.

Pangasinan has the bulk of palay production among the provinces, contributing 71.6 percent of the total output of the region in 1st quarter 2024. The province posted production of 226,320 metric tons during the period, lower than the output of 230,899 metric tons in first quarter 2023. The area harvested also decreased by 3.0 percent from 47,791 hectares in 1st quarter 2023 to 46,344 hectares in the same period of 2024. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare improved from 4.83 metric tons in 1st quarter 2023 to 4.88 metric tons in 1st quarter 2024 (Table 1).

The province of Ilocos Norte, which shared 13.3 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 1st quarter 2024, recorded 41,984 metric tons output. This is 5.3 percent lower than the production of 44,316 metric tons in 1st quarter 2023. The harvest area during the period went down from 7,919 hectares to 7,641 hectares. The yield per hectare decreased from 5.60 metric tons to 5.49 metric tons (Table 1).

The volume of palay production in La Union registered at 26,375 metric tons with 8.3 percent share to total production of the region. Its output decreased by 1.6 percent compared to the 26,796 production in 1st quarter 2023. The harvest area decreased from 5,800 hectares to 5,709 hectares during the period. However, the yield per hectare remained at 4.68 metric tons (Table 1).

The province of Ilocos Sur, which shared 6.8 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 1st quarter 2024, recorded 21,345 metric tons during the period. The output was higher by 1.7 percent from the 20,990 metric tons in 1st quarter 2023. The harvest area decreased from 4,402 hectares to 4240 hectares. The yield per hectare, on the other hand, increased from 4.77 metric tons to 5.03 metric tons.

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