The volume of palay production in the Ilocos Region registered lower growth in 1^st quarter 2021 compared to its level a year ago. The production recorded at 322,359 metric tons, or 2.73 percent lower than the  331,421 metric tons output in 1^st quarter 2020. The Ilocos Region accounted 6.97 percent of the total palay production of the country in 1^st quarter 2021.

As to the harvest area, the region recorded 66,467 hectares, a contraction of 2.02 percent from the level in the 1^st quarter 2020. Almost all the harvested area were irrigated. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare decline from 4.89 metric tons to 4.85 metric tons.

All the provinces of the region, except Pangasinan, posted lower volume of palay production in 1^st quarter 2021.

Pangasinan has the bulk of production among the provinces, contributing 71.79 percent of the total output of the region in 1^st quarter 2021.  The positive growth in its output, however, did not offset the decrements in the palay production of the three provinces which pulled down  the overall output of the region during the period.

The province posted production of 231,424 metric tons in the 1^st quarter 2021, higher than the output in 1^st quarter 2020 of 224,067 metric tons. Expansion in    area    of     2.64    percent    from    47,172     hectares to 48,415 hectares were noted due to repair of some irrigation facilities along the service areas of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the eastern part of the province. All the harvested palay area in the province during the period were irrigated. Meanwhile, the yield per hectare improved from 4.75 metric tons to 4.78 metric tons.

The province of Ilocos Norte, which shared 11.81 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 1^st quarter 2021, recorded 38, 075 metric tons output in 1^st quarter 2021. This is 22.24 percent lower than the production of 48,967 metric tons in 1^st quarter 2020. Late plantings in some areas due to insufficient water supply decreased the harvest area to 7,335 hectares from 9,405 hectares in the same period last year. About 96.69 percent of the harvested palay areas of the province during the period are irrigated, and the rest are rainfed. The yield per hectare, likewise, decline from 5.21 metric tons to 5.19 metric tons.

The volume of palay production in Ilocos Sur registered 1.92 percent decline compared to its output in 1^st quarter 2020. The recorded palay produce of the province this 1^st quarter 2021 is 27,517 metric tons. Just like Ilocos Norte, there were late plantings in some irrigated areas due     to insufficient water supply. Movement of harvest to the second quarter   is expected. The harvest area contracted from 5,254 hectares to 5,088 hectares. However, the yield per hectare went up from 5.34 metric tons to 5.41 metric tons.

The province of La Union, which shared 7.86 percent to the total palay production of the Ilocos Region in 1^st quarter 2021, recorded 25,343 metric tons during the period. The output was lower by 16.44 percent from  the 30,330 metric tons record in 1^st quarter 2020. The harvest area, which  are all irrigated, decreased from 6,006 hectares to 5,629 hectares due  to insufficient water supply. The yield per hectare also went down from     5.05 metric tons to 4.50 metric tons.

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN
Officer-in-Charge, RSSO I