Palay production in the Ilocos Region grew by 2.78 percent in 2020. Its output increased to 1,902,662 metric tons from 1,851,265 metric tons in 2019. Ilocos Region shared 9.86 percent to the total production of palay in the entire country in 2020. It ranked fourth among the regions in terms of volume of palay production. 

In terms of yield per hectare, Ilocos Region ranked third among the regions in the country. Its yield per hectares reached 4.67 metric tons, higher than the 4.55 metric tons record in 2019. Meanwhile, the harvest area of the region expanded from 407,139 hectares to 407,701 hectares. All the provinces of the region registered increments in palay production in 2020.

The province of Pangasinan has the biggest share to the total palay production of Ilocos Region in 2020 of 59.67 percent. The output of the province registered at 1,135,379 metric tons, higher than the record of 1,104,392 metric tons in 2019. The yield per hectare during the period reached to 4.51 metric tons from 4.37 metric tons a year ago. The increased usage of quality hybrid and inbred seeds, and absence of destructive typhoons contributed to the positive growth in output. On the other hand, the harvest area decreased by 0.43 percent from 252,619 metric tons to 251,537 metric tons due to unrealized planting intentions caused by insufficient water supply. 

The province of Ilocos Norte ranked second in terms of volume of palay production in the region in 2020 with 17.97 percent. The output reached to 341,995 metric tons, or 3.73 percent higher than the output in 2019. The harvest area expanded from 66,003 hectares to 66,213 hectares due to availability of seeds and free fertilizers, and sufficient water supply. Likewise, the yield per hectare improved from 5.00 metric tons to 5.17 metric tons. The absence of destructive typhoons also contributed to the overall positive growth in palay output.

The province of Ilocos Sur recorded 249,171 metric tons palay production in 2020. This is higher than the production in 2019 of 248,126 metric tons. The harvest area increased by 1.85 percent from 50,155 hectares in 2019 to 51,082 hectares in 2020. Additional area from fallow land, and shifting from crops like cauliflower and cabbage caused the expansion in area. However, the yield per hectare decreased from 4.95 metric tons to 4.88 metric tons due to the effect of insufficient water in the last quarter of 2020. The province shared 13.10 percent to the total palay production of Ilocos Region in 2020.

La Union shared 9.26 percent to the total palay production in the region in 2020. Palay output of the province grew by 4.18 percent from 169,054 metric tons in 2019 to 176,117 metric tons in 2020. Increase in harvest area was noted due to sufficient water supply, and rehabilitation of irrigation canals. Thus, it expanded from 38,363 hectares to 38,869 hectares. The yield per hectare also increased from 4.41 metric tons to 4.53 metric tons. The increased usage of hybrid and quality inbred seeds, coupled with the absence of destructive typhoons, triggered the positive growth in the overall palay production of the province.