La Union’s palay production went down by 19.2 percent in first quarter 2019

Palay production in La Union declined by 19.2 percent in first quarter 2019 at 23,255 metric tons compared with the production in the same period of 2018 at 28,776 metric tons. Among the four provinces of Region I, La Union had the smallest share in terms of volume of palay production. Its share is 7.05 percent of the Region’s total volume of palay production of 23,255 metric tons. Pangasinan had the largest proportion with 69.52 percent share, followed by Ilocos Norte with 14.48 percent and Ilocos Sur with 8.95  percent. Overall, Ilocos Region’s palay production in first quarter 2019 rose by 0.25 percent from 329,229 metric tons on the same period last year to 330,050 metric tons.

Area harvested for Palay in La Union dropped by 8.9 percent in first quarter 2019

The total area harvested for palay in the province in first quarter 2019 (5,187 hectares) dropped by 8.90 percent or 507 hectares lower than the 5,694 hectares harvested area in first quarter 2018. La Union had the smallest share in the proportion of harvested area for palay in first quarter 2019 with a share of 7.52 percent to the total harvested area in Ilocos Region (68,971 hectares). Pangasinan had the largest share at 70.38 percent, followed distantly by Ilocos Norte with a share of 13.55 percent and Ilocos Sur with 8.55 percent. The total area harvested for palay in Region I grew by 2.29 percent from 67,425 hectares in first quarter 2018 to 68,971 hectares in first quarter 2019.

Yield per hectare in irrigated farms decreases by 11.29 percent

By ecosystem, the volume of palay harvested in La union in first quarter 2019 was produced mainly from irrigated farms. There were no reported harvests from rainfed farms. From January to March 2019, a total of 23,255 metric tons were harvested from irrigated farms with a total harvested area of 5,187 hectares.

The average yield of palay harvested from irrigated farms in first quarter 2019 was computed at 4.48 metric tons per hectare. It went down by 11.29 percent from the average yield on the same period in 2018 of 5.05 metric tons per hectare.

La Union is the lowest producer of corn in Region I

            Among the four provinces of Region I, La Union had the least volume of production of corn in first quarter of 2019 at 25,740 metric tons. Its share to the regional total volume of production was 6.37 percent. Pangasinan being the largest province had the biggest share at 65.01 percent (262,594 metric tons). It was followed by Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte with 17.48 percent (70,619 metric tons) and 11.14 percent (45,004 metric tons) respectively.

          Similar situation was observed on the volume of production of corn in Region I on the same period in 2018. About two-thirds of the regional volume of corn was produced in Pangasinan. The remaining one-third was shared by the provinces of Ilocos Sur (15.79 %), Ilocos Norte (11.13 %) and La Union (6.79 %). From first quarter 2018 to the same period in 2019, the volume of produced corn in La Union slightly dropped from 6.79 percent to 6.37 percent. Likewise, the regional volume of corn production decreased  by 1.54 percent from 26,142 metric tons in first quarter 2018 to 25,740 metric tons in first quarter 2019.

Similarly, the corresponding area harvested for corn in La Union in the first quarter of 2019 went down by 2.51 percent from 4,471 hectares in first quarter 2018 to 4,359 hectares in first quarter 2018. The reported area in 2019 is 112 hectares lower than the area reported on the same period a year ago. Among the provinces, Pangasinan had the biggest share at 63.17 percent, followed by Ilocos Sur with 17.74 percent and Ilocos Norte with 12.50 percent. La Union had the least share in the area harvested for corn at 6.60 percent. The area harvester for corn for the entire region increased by 4.85 percent from 385,287 hectares area harvested in the first quarter  2018 to 403,957 hectares in first quarter 2019.

Corn production declined by 1.54 percent in first quarter 2019

 Two varieties of corn were grown in La Union in first quarters of 2018 and 2019, that is, white and yellow corn. The volume of production for all types of harvested corn went down by 1.54 percent from 26,142 metric tons in first quarter 2018 to 25,740 metric tons in the same period this year. 

The total harvested area for all types of corn in first quarter 2019 at 4,359 hectares posted a decrease of 2.51 percent from the area harvested in 2018 at 4,471 hectares.

By crop type, the volume of production for yellow corn was 22,526 metric tons or 87.51 percent share from the total production of all corn in the province in first quarter 2019. From the production of 22,860 metric tons in first quarter 2018, it recorded a decrease of 1.46 percent. Similarly, the volume of production for white corn also declined by 2.07 percent from 3,282 metric tons first quarter 2018 to 3,214 metric tons in first quarter 2019. Its share to the total corn production in La Union was 12.48 percent.

Total corn area harvested in the province of La Union in first quarter 2019 was 4,359 hectares. By crop type, the recorded area harvested for yellow corn was 3,651 hectares or 83.76 percent share to the total area. This marked a decrease of 1.62 percent or 60 hectares lesser than the area harvested in first quarter 2018. Likewise, harvested area for white corn dropped by 6.84 percent or 52 hectares less than the area harvested in first quarter 2018 of 760 hectares.

Palay and Corn Production Survey (PCPS) is a quarterly survey that generates estimates and forecasts data on production, area and yield of palay and corn. The survey gathers information on the area planted/harvested and production by ecosystem (palay) and crop type (corn); monthly distribution of production and area harvested; farm household disposition/utilization of production; area of standing crop; planting intention indicator; use of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides; and awareness and availment of program interventions.

Reference Periods

January Survey round – October to December

April Survey round – January to March

July Survey round – April to June

October Survey round – July to September

Production refers to the quantity produced and actually harvested for a particular crop during the reference period.

Area Harvested refers to the actual area from which harvest are realized during the reference period.

Irrigated Farms refer to area with irrigation facilities supplying water through artificial means like gravity, force/power, pump, etc.  Irrigated area become rainfed only, when the irrigation system is no longer operational for the past two (2) years and beyond repair and there is no plan of irrigating the farm.           

Rainfed Farms refer to area that holds standing water but solely dependent on rainfall for its water supply. It may have dikes that retain rainwater. 

Yield refers to the measurement of the amount of agricultural production harvested per unit of land area.

                  NIÑO E. TUAZON

       (Supervising Statistical Specialist)

                  Officer-in-Charge