Palay and corn production in Ilocos Region went down in 2^nd quarter 2019 compared with their respective level in 2^nd quarter 2018.

Palay

Palay production in2^ndquarter 2019was posted at 158,805 metric tons, lower than the estimate in 2^ndquarter 2018of 160,879 metric tons. There were lesser area planted as some areas in Pangasinan, particularly the Municipalities of Sto. Tomas and Rosales, were affected by the repair of irrigation systems. Thus, the harvest area decreased from 33,696 hectares to 33,228 hectares. On the other hand, the yield per hectare improved from 4.77 metric tons to 4.78 metric tons.

The province of Pangasinan accounted for the biggest proportion of the total palay production of Ilocos Region in 2^nd quarter 2019 with 72.87 percent share. However, its output was down from 120,589 metric tons in 2^nd quarter 2018 to 115,714 metric tons in 2^nd quarter 2019. The decline in output was attributed to lesser area harvested as some areas in the Municipalities of Sto. Tomas and Rosales were affected by the repair of irrigation systems. Planting intentions were not realized. The overall harvest area was recorded at 24,464 hectares lower than the area harvested in the same period of 2018 at 25,712 hectares. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare went up from 4.69 metric tons to 4.73 metric tons.

The province of Ilocos Norte ranked second in terms of volume of palay production in the region in 2^ndquarter 2019. Its output of 26,130 metric tons was higher than the output in 2^ndquarter 2018 of 25,827 metric tons. Increased plantings were observed due to the availability of subsidized seeds from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office I (DA-RFO I) and Local Government Units (LGUs). The overall harvest area expanded from 5,062hectares to 5,080 hectares. The yield per hectare went up from 5.10 metric tons to 5.12 metric tons due to presence of favorable rains, sufficient irrigation water, and better performance of new seed varieties.

Palay production in La Union is third highest in 2^ndquarter 2019 with 6.49 percent of the total palay production in Ilocos Region. From the output of 8,615 metric tons in the same period of 2018, it went up to 10,303metric tons as harvest area expanded from 1,783 hectares to 2,396 hectares. There were additional areas planted in the northern municipalities of the province, particularly in Luna and Balaoan, due to the unplanned release of irrigation water by National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Amburayan. However, the overall yield per hectare dropped from 4.83 metric tons to 4.30 metric tons due to insufficient water.

Ilocos Sur recorded the least volume of palay production with 4.19 percent of the total palay production in the region in 2^ndquarter 2019. It grew from 5,848 metric tons in 2^ndquarter 2018 to 6,658 metric tons in the same period this year. The harvest area increased from 1,139 hectares to 1,288 hectares due to increased plantings along the lateral canals of the Banaoang Pump Irrigation Project (BPIP) and availability of seeds and fertilizers from DA-RFO I and LGUs. The yield per hectare also improved from 5.13 metric tons to 5.17 metric tons due to increased usage of high quality seeds and presence of rains and irrigation water.

Corn

Corn production in Ilocos Region dropped by 2.98percent with 154,200 metric tons output in 2^ndquarter 2019 from 158,937 metric tons output in 2^nd quarter 2018. The provinces of Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan posted lower production. The harvest area decreased from 27,849 hectares to 26,651 hectares as some areas in Pangasinan were affected by the repair of irrigation systems and others were planted with tobacco. Meanwhile, the overall yield per hectare improved from 5.71 metric tons to 5.79metric tons due to presence of favorable rains and increased usage of high quality seeds and fertilizers.

Pangasinan, which ranked first in terms of volume of production in 2^ndquarter 2019 with 59.24 percent, registered lower output. From 98,404 metric tons production in the same period of 2018, itwent down to 91,344 metric tons due to lesser plantings as some were affected by the repair of irrigation systems. Thus, harvest area contracted from 16,992 hectares to 15,561 hectares. The overall yield per hectare, on the other hand, grew from 5.79 metric tons to 5.87 metrictons due to presence of favorable rains during the reproductive stage.

Ilocos Sur ranked second with 22.75 percent of the total corn production in the region in 2^nd quarter 2019. Its corn production increased from 31,809 metric tons in 2^ndquarter 2018 to 35,083 metric tons in 2^ndquarter 2019. More plantings were recorded due to availability of high quality seeds from the LGUs. The harvest area increased to 6,114 hectares from 5,663 hectares. Likewise, the overall yield per hectare grew from 5.62 metric tons to 5.74 metric tons.

Ilocos Norte accounted for 10.32 percent of the total corn production in the region in 2^ndquarter 2019. It registered a production of 15,916 metric tons, lower by 9.77percent than the production recorded in the same quarter of 2018. Harvest area went down from 3,007 hectares to 2,692 hectares as some plantings were already harvested in 1^st quarter 2019 to catch up with better price and soil moisture. However, the overall yield per hectare improved from 5.87 metric tons to 5.91 metric tons due to the presence of favorable rains, better performance of new seed varieties, and lesser pest infestations.

The province of La Union recorded the least corn production in 2^nd quarter 2019 with 7.69 percent of the total corn production in Ilocos Region. From 11,084 metric tons volume of production in 2^ndquarter 2018, the corn production in the province grew to 11,857 metric tons this year due to availability of high quality seeds and increased fertilizer usage. The overall harvest area increased from 2,187 hectares to 2,284 hectares while the overall yield per hectare went up from 5.07 metric tons to 5.19 metric tons.

TECHNICAL NOTES

• The Palay and Corn Production Survey (PCPS) consists of two national quarterly surveys which are conducted simultaneously. These are the Palay Production Survey (PPS) and Corn Production Survey (CPS). The surveys generate estimates on palay and corn production, area and yield and other production-related data that serve as inputs for policymaking and programs on palay/rice and corn. The PCPS covers sample-farming households in sample barangays in all provinces. It is conducted quarterly with the following quarters as the reference periods:

April Round Survey - January to March

July Round Survey - April to June

October Round Survey - July to September

January Round Survey - October to December

• The objective of the survey is to generate estimates and forecasts on palay and corn area, production, and yield.

• The purpose of this survey is to provide data inputs for policies and programs on rice and corn.

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN

          (Chief Administrative Officer)

                  Officer-in-Charge