Palay production in La Union decreases by 4.09 percent in second quarter 2020

La Union’s palay production declined by 4.09 percent in second quarter 2020 at 9,882 metric tons compared with the production in the same period of 2019 at 10,303 metric tons. Among the four provinces of Region I, La Union ranked third in terms of volume of palay production. Its share to the Region’s total volume of production is 6.05 percent. In second quarter 2020, Pangasinan had the largest proportion with 72.17 percent share, followed by Ilocos Norte with 16.28 percent. The province of Ilocos Sur had the smallest share with 5.51 percent. Overall, Ilocos Region’s palay production in second quarter 2020 was increased by 2.94 percent from 158,805 metric tons on the same period last year to 163,467 metric tons.

La Union’s area harvested for Palay declined by 9.56 percent in second quarter 2020

The total area harvested for palay in the province in second quarter 2020 of 2,167 hectares declined by 9.6 percent or 229 hectares lower than the 2,396 hectares harvested area in second quarter 2019. La Union ranked third in terms of proportion to the total harvested area for palay in Region I in second quarter 2020. It has a share of 6.36 percent to the total harvested area in Ilocos Region of 34,062 hectares. Pangasinan had the largest share at 73.53 percent, followed by Ilocos Norte with a share of 15.00 percent. Ilocos Sur with 5.11 percent share had the lowest proportion. The total area harvested for palay in Region I incereased by 2.51 percent from 33,228 hectares in second quarter 2019 to 34,062 hectares in second quarter 2020.

Yield per hectare in irrigated farms decreases by 4.09 percent

By ecosystem, the volume of palay harvested in La union in second quarter 2020 was produced mainly from irrigated farms. There was no reported harvest from rainfedfarms. From April to June 2020, a total of 19,882 metric tons were harvested from irrigated farms with a total harvested area of 2,167 hectares.

The computed average yield of palay harvested from irrigated farms in second quarter 2020 was 4.56 metric tons per hectare. It went up by 6.05 percent from the average yield on the same period in 2019 of 4.30 metric tons per hectare.

La Union remains the lowest producer of corn in Region I

Among the four provinces of Region I, La Union had the lowest volume of production of corn in second quarter of 2020 at 11,496 metric tons. Its share to the Region I’s total volume of production was 6.84 percent. Pangasinan being the largest province had the biggest share with 58.66 percent (98,656 metric tons). It was followed by Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte with 24.67 percent (41497 metric tons) and 9.83 percent (16,527 metric tons) respectively.

From second quarter 2019 to the same period in 2020, the percent share of La Union to the total in the Region decreased from 7.69 percent to 6.84 percent. On the contrary, the regional volume of corn production increased  by 9.06 percent from 154,200 metric tons in second quarter 2019 to 168,176 metric tons in second quarter 2020.

Similarly, the corresponding area harvested for corn in La Union in the second quarter of 2020 went down by 2.80 percent (64 hectares)  from2,284 hectares in second quarter 2019 to 2,220 hectares in second quarter 2020. Among the four provinces, Pangasinanoccupied the biggest area harvested with corn at 57.87 percent, followed by Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte with 25.06 percent and 9.39 percent, respectively. La Union had the least share in the total area harvested for corn in Region I at 7.67 percent. The area harvested for corn for the entire region increased by 8.58 percent from 26,651 hectares in second quarter 2019 to 28,937 hectares in second quarter 2020.

Corn production went up by 6.97 percent in second quarter 2019

Two types of corn (white corn and yellow corn) were grown in La Union in second quarters of 2019 and 2020. The volume of production for all types of harvested corn declined by 3.04 percent from 11,857 metric tons in second quarter 2019 to 11,496 metric tons in the same period this year. 

On the other hand, the total harvested area for all types of corn in second quarter 2020with2,220 hectares posted a decreased of 2.80 percent from the total area harvested in 2019 with 2,284 hectares.

By crop type, the volume of production for yellow corn was 8,719 metric tons or 75.84 percent share of the total production of all corn in the province in second quarter 2020. From the production of 9,063 metric tons in second quarter 2019, it recorded with a decrease of 3.08 percent. On the contrary, the volume of production for white corn declined by 0.61 percent from 2,794 metric tons second quarter 2019 to 2,777 metric tons in second quarter 2020. Its share to the total corn production in La Union was 24.16 percent.

Total corn area harvested in the province of La Union in second quarter 2020 was 2,220 hectares. This marked a decrease of 2.80 percent (64 hectares)less than the area harvested in second quarter 2019. By crop type, the recorded area harvested for yellow corn was 1,519 hectares or 68.42 percent share to the total area. Likewise, harvested area for white corn for the second quarter 2020 dropped by 0.57 percent or 4 hectares less than the area harvested in second quarter 2019with 705 hectares or 31.58 percent share to the total area.

STATISTICAL TABLES

TECHNICAL NOTES

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 toarea 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.          

RainfedFarms refer toarea 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.

DANITES E. TEÑIDO, Ph.D.
Chief Statistical Specialist