Reduced rice, corn output seen in July-Sept – PSA
THE Philippines’ rice and corn production will probably drop in the third quarter of 2018 because of typhoons and the southwest monsoon (habagat), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.
In its “Rice and Corn Estimates” report, the state-run statistics agency said rice and corn output probably dipped by 2.3 percent and 0.3 percent to 3.25 million metric tons (MMT) and 2.176 MMT in July to September from 3.32 MMT and 2.182 MMT in the same period last year, respectively.
PSA blamed the decline on the harvest areas and yields reduced by typhoons and bad weather the country experienced in those months.
The number of harvested rice and corn areas fell from 783.60 thousand hectares (ha) and 824.49 thousand ha from 852.63 thousand ha and 884.21 thousand ha last year, respectively.
Rice yield is expected to reach 3.98 MT per ha in the quarter; corn, 2.78 MT per ha, a 1.14-percent decrease from 2.93 MT a year ago.
“Probable drop in palay (unhusked rice) production may be [blamed on]the effect of the southwest monsoon or habagat in July, during the reproductive and maturing stages of the crop in most provinces of northern Luzon,” PSA said.
“Bulk of the decrement may come from Nueva Ecija [province]. Moreover, recent typhoons Henry, Inday and Josie may affect output in Pampanga and Tarlac [provinces],” it added.
Yield may also decline in Iloilo and South Cotabato provinces because of infestation of rice bugs and black bugs, respectively.
About 101,960 ha of rice fields, or 12.4 percent of the updated standing crop, have been harvested, according to the agency.
Farmers also planted the staple in 1,289.41 ha, or 66.8 percent of the intended area, for October to December.
Habagat may also be blamed for the likely reduction of corn produced in Negros Oriental, South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.
Corn yield may decrease in Cebu because of insufficient soil moisture during the crop’s vegetative stage. The decline in corn areas in Oriental Mindoro province, meanwhile, was caused by floods brought by Josie in July.
About148,850 hectares of corn, or 19.0 percent of the updated standing crop, have been harvested.
Of “the farmers’ planting intentions for October to December 2018, about 560 thousand ha (81.9 percent) have been planted,” PSA said.
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