Corn production in La Union declines in 3rd quarter 2021

The volume of corn production in La Union decreased by 1.20 percent in 3rd quarter 2021 at 726.16 metric tons from 735.00 metric tons in 3rd quarter 2020.

As to area harvested for corn in 3rd quarter 2021, it declined to 216.00 hectares from 226.00 hectares in 3rd quarter 2020 or a decrease of 4.42 percent.   On the contrary, the yield per hectare expanded by 3.38 percent from 3.25 metric tons per hectare in 3rd quarter 2020 to 3.36 metric tons per hectare in 3rd quarter 2021. (Figure 1)

Similarly, Ilocos Region’s volume of corn production declined in 3rd quarter 2021.  A decrease of 3.08 percent was noted in the region’s volume of corn production from 9,203.00 metric tons in 3rd quarter 2020 to 8,919.16 metric tons in 3rd quarter 2021.

Among the provinces in Ilocos Region, La Union posted the least volume of corn production in 3rd quarter 2021 accounting to 8.14 percent of the total volume of corn production in the region. On the other hand, Ilocos Sur recorded the largest volume of corn production in the region with 51.69 percent share (4,610.00 metric tons).  Pangasinan distantly followed with 30.54 percent share (2,724.00 metric tons) and Ilocos Norte with 9.63 percent share (859.00 metric tons).  (Figure 2)

The corn output in the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and La Union grew by 8.74 percent, 1.61 percent, and 1.20 percent respectively from 3rd quarter 2020 to 3rd quarter 2021 while Ilocos Norte had a 39.76 percent decline in its corn output.

Moreover, the area harvested for corn in Ilocos Region decreased by 6.04 percent from 2,118.00 hectares in 3rd quarter 2020 to 1,990.00 hectares in 3rd quarter 2021. Among the four provinces, Ilocos Norte had the least share of 9.05 percent to the total area harvested for corn in the region.  Ilocos Sur occupied the biggest area harvested for corn with 51.06 percent share (1,016.00 hectares) followed by Pangasinan with  29.05 percent share (578.00 hectares) and La Union with 10.85 percent share (216.00 hectares). (Figure 3)

From 3rd quarter 2020 to 3rd quarter 2021, the area harvested for corn in Pangasinan expanded by 7.64 percent. In Ilocos Norte and La Union, the area harvested for corn decreased by 46.90 percent and 4.42 percent, respectively.  Meanwhile, the area harvested for corn in Ilocos Sur remained the same in 3rd quarter of 2020 and 2021.

In La Union, two types of corn (white and yellow corn) were grown in 3rd quarter 2020 and 3rd quarter 2021.  Of the total volume of corn production in 3rd quarter 2021, white corn accounted for 95.30 percent while yellow corn comprised the remaining 4.70 percent. (Figure 4)

White corn production was registered at 692.00 metric tons in 3rd quarter 2021.  This was 4.55 percent lower than the previous year’s same period level of 725.00 metric tons.    

On the other hand, yellow corn production in 3rd quarter 2021 was posted at 34.16 metric tons, 241.60 percent higher than the 10.00 metric tons production in the same period a year ago.

The area harvested for white corn accounted for 96.76 percent of the total area harvested for corn in the province while yellow corn contributed 3.24 percent of the total area. (Figure 5)

The area harvested for yellow corn in 3rd quarter 2021 was recorded at 216.00 hectares, 4.42 percent lower than the 226.00 hectares in the same period a year ago.  For yellow corn, the area harvested expanded by 250.00 percent from 2.00 hectares in 3rd quarter 2020 to 7.00 hectares in 3rd quarter 2021. 

Meanwhile, the yield per hectare for white corn increased by 2.16 percent from 3.24 metric tons per hectare in 3rd quarter 2020 to 3.31 metric tons per hectare in 3rd quarter 2021 while the yield per hectare for yellow corn decreased by 2.40 percent, from 5.00 metric tons per hectare in 3rd quarter 2020 to 4.88 metric tons per hectare in 3rd quarter 2021.

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 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 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.

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

MAQ/MFC