The volume of palay production in the Ilocos Region registered higher growth in 4th quarter 2022 compared to its level a year ago. The production recorded at 1,264,003 metric tons, or 3.96 percent higher than the 1,215,833 metric tons output in 4th quarter 2021. About 58.23 percent were irrigated and the rest were rainfed.

As to the harvest area, the region recorded a decrease of 1.06 percent, that is from the 267,268 hectares in 4 th quarter 2021 to 264,443 hectares in the same period of 2022. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare increased from 4.55 metric tons to 4.78 metric tons.

All the provinces of the region, except Ilocos Norte, posted higher volume of palay production in 4 th quarter 2022.

Pangasinan has the bulk of palay production among the provinces, contributing 60.42 percent of the total output of the region in 4th quarter 2022. The province posted a production of 763,743 metric tons during the period, higher than the output in 4th quarter 2021 of 714,586 metric tons. The harvest area increased by 0.60 from 160,279 hectares in 4th quarter 2021 to 161,244 hectares in the same period of 2022. Moreover, the yield per hectare improved from 4.46 metric tons in 4th quarter 2021 to 4.74 metric tons in 4th quarter 2022.

The province of Ilocos Norte, which shared 16.12 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 4th quarter 2022, recorded 203,764 metric tons output. This is 5.35 percent lower than the production of 215,279 metric tons in 4th quarter 2021. The harvest area during the period also went down from 42,157 hectares to 39,691 hectares. The yield per hectare, however, improved from 5.11 metric tons to 5.13 metric tons.

The volume of palay production in Ilocos Sur registered 0.92 percent increase compared to its output in 4th quarter 2021. The recorded palay produce of the province in 4th quarter 2022 is 177,236 metric tons. The harvest area decreased from 37,137 hectares to 36,341 hectares during the period. The yield per hectare increased from 4.73 metric tons in 4th quarter 2021 to 4.88 metric tons in 4th quarter 2022.

The province of La Union, which shared 9.44 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 4th quarter 2022, recorded 119,260 metric tons during the period. The output was higher by 8.08 percent from the 110,345 metric tons record in 4th quarter 2021. The harvest area decreased from 27,695 hectares to 27,167 hectares. The yield per hectare went up from 3.98 metric tons to 4.39 metric tons.

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