Corn production in La Union grows in 2023

Two types of corn (white and yellow corn) were grown in La Union in 2022 and 2023. The volume of corn production increased by 0.99 percent in 2023 at 39,006.54 metric tons from 38,622.60 metric tons in 2022.

As to area harvested for corn, it decreased by 0.13 percent from 7,101.12 hectares in 2022 to 7,092.22 hectares in 2023. On the other hand, the yield per hectare increased from 5.44 metric tons per hectare in 2022 to 5.50 metric tons per hectare in 2023.

Similarly, Ilocos Region’s volume of corn production also went up in 2023. An increase of 1.48 percent was noted in the region’s volume of corn production from 585,755.64 metric tons in 2022 to 594,406.80 metric tons in 2023.

Among the provinces in Ilocos Region, La Union posted the least volume of corn production in 2023 accounting to 6.56 percent (39,006.54 metric tons) of the total volume of corn production in the region. On the other hand, Pangasinan recorded the largest volume of corn production in the region with 62.10 percent share (36,9118.00 metric tons). Ilocos Sur followed with 19.83 percent share (117,857.00 metric tons) and Ilocos Norte with 11.51 percent share (68,425.26 metric tons). 

Similar with the uptrend from 2022 to 2023 at the regional level, the corn production in Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and La Union grew by 0.73 percent, 3.02 percent, 3.23 percent, and 0.99 percent, respectively.

The area harvested for corn in Ilocos Region increased by 1.50 percent from 98,123.12 hectares in 2022 to 99,593.22 hectares in 2023. Among the four provinces, La Union had the least share of 7.12 percent (7,092.22 hectares) to the total area harvested for corn in the region. Pangasinan occupied the biggest area harvested for corn with 60.29 percent share (60,049.00 hectares) followed by Ilocos Sur with 20.30 percent share (20,215.00 hectares) and Ilocos Norte with 12.29 percent share (12,237.00 hectares). (Figure 3)

Comparing the area harvested for corn in 2023 with the area harvested a year ago, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte recorded increases by 1.13 percent, 1.45 percent, and 4.43 percent, respectively, while La Union registered a 0.13 percent decrease.

STATISTICAL TABLES

TECHNICAL NOTES

Corn Production Survey (CPS) is a quarterly survey that generates estimates and forecasts data on production, area and yield of corn. The survey gathers information on the area planted/harvested and production by ecosystem and crop type; monthly distribution of production and area harvested; farm household disposition/utilization of production; area of standing crop; 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, PhD
Chief Statistical Specialist

/MAQ