Corn production in the Ilocos Region decreased by 1.99 percent in 2020. The output of 563,388 metric tons is lower than the 574,852 metric tons harvested in 2019. Ilocos Region ranked fifth in terms of volume of production among the regions in the Philippines in 2020. 

The harvest area declined from 96,663 hectares to 95,167 hectares. Consequently, the yield per hectare went down from 5.95 metric tons to 5.92 metric tons. The provinces of Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan exhibited lower corn production during the period.

Despite the decline in its corn performance, Ilocos Region maintained its standing as the first in rank in terms of yield per hectare among the regions in the country. 

Corn production of Ilocos Region was dominated by yellow corn which accounted for 91.73 percent of the total production of the region.

The province of Pangasinan contributed 61.89 percent to the total corn production of the Ilocos Region in 2020. Its production of 348,661 metric tons is lower by 2.46 from the record in 2019 of 357,470 metric tons. The harvest area also decreased from 58,068 hectares to 57,108 hectares due to unrealized planting intentions and shifting to tobacco. Moreover, the yield per hectare shrunk to 6.11 metric tons from 6.16 metric tons in 2019. 

The province of Ilocos Norte which shared 11.80 percent to the total corn production of the region increased by 2.13 percent. The output reached to 66,508 metric tons from 65,123 metric tons in 2019. The harvest area likewise grew to 11,842 hectares from 11,905 hectares. The yield per hectare improved by 2.67 percent from 5.47 metric tons in 2019. Increased plantings from fallow land, use of quality seeds and occurrence of favorable rains contributed to the overall gains in production.

The province of Ilocos Sur recorded 108,606 metric tons corn production in 2020. The output is lower by 3.61 percent from the record in 2019 of 112,674 metric tons. The harvest area went down by 2.66 percent from the 19,470 hectares in 2019 due to shifting to tobacco. The yield per hectare likewise decreased from 5.79 metric tons to 5.73 metric tons.

Corn production in La Union marked at 39,613 metric tons in 2020. This is higher than the output in 2019 of 39,585 metric tons. The availability of seeds and increased demand for “nilaga” expanded the area from 7,220 hectares to 7,264 hectares. On the other hand, the yield per hectare went down from 5.48 metric tons to 5.45 metric tons.