During April to June 2022, the total volume of corn production in the MIMAROPA Region was estimated at 35,983 metric tons. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro’s corn production of 32,545 metric tons got the highest share of about 90.4 percent in the regional production of corn. This was followed by the production in Palawan of 1,747 metric tons with a corresponding 4.9 percent share in the total corn production of the region. Meanwhile, the combined corn production from Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Marinduque of 1,692 metric tons was accounted to 4.7 percent share in the MIMAROPA’s total corn production.

A total of 32,328 metric tons of corns produced in the MIMAROPA Region were mostly yellow. This accounts to 89.8 percent of the total volume of corn production in the region. Yellow corns were predominantly produced in Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan with corresponding share of 92.8 percent, 86.3 percent, and 65.4 percent to the total corn production in their respective province. Meanwhile, corns produced in Marinduque and Romblon were predominantly white which accounted to 100.0 percent and 66.2 percent share of their total corn production.

Volume of corn production increased by 3.6 percent

MIMAROPA Region’s corn production of 35,983 metric tons during April to June 2022 was higher by 1,239 metric tons or 3.6 percent with respect to the regional production of 34,744 metric tons from second quarter of 2021. The increase was led by Occidental Mindoro with an additional 807 metric tons of corn or a 2.54 percent incline from the province’s total corn production from the same quarter of the previous year. This was followed by the increase in production from Oriental Mindoro (308 metric tons), Romblon (103 metric tons), and Marinduque (89 metric tons).

White corns produced within MIMAROPA Region during April to June 2022 was registered at 3,655 metric tons, an increase by 7.7 percent from the recorded 3,394 metric tons during the same quarter of the previous year. The rise in production was contributed by Romblon (135 metric tons), Oriental Mindoro (47 metric tons), Marinduque (89 metric tons), and Occidental Mindoro (15 metric tons).

Similarly, an upsurge by 978 metric tons in the production of yellow corn at 32,328 metric tons was observed in the second quarter of 2022 from 31,350 metric tons production in the same quarter of the previous year. This was due to the additional production of yellow corns from Occidental Mindoro (792 metric tons) and Oriental Mindoro (261 metric tons).

Total corn area harvested expanded by 4.6 percent 

Total area harvested for all types of corn during April to June 2022 reached 7,996 hectares. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro recorded the largest area harvested at 6,939 hectares. Palawan followed at 557 hectares. Meanwhile, Marinduque got the smallest area harvested of 57 hectares.

Total area harvested of the region increased by 4.6 percent or 354 hectares compared to the recorded harvested area of 7,642 hectares in the second quarter of 2021. 
This was contributed by the expansion in area harvested from Occidental Mindoro (339 hectares), Marinduque (21 hectares), Romblon (15 hectares), and Oriental Mindoro (14 hectares).

During April to June 2022, a 4.3 percent rise in the area harvested on white corns was noted. White corns’ area harvested registered at 1,314 hectares in this quarter compared to 1,259 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The expansion in area harvested for white corns was contributed by Romblon (22 hectares), Marinduque (21 hectares), Occidental Mindoro (19 hectares) and Oriental Mindoro(10 hectares).

Likewise, yellow corns’ area harvested of 6,682 hectares during the second quarter of 2022 was 4.7 percent higher than the recorded area harvested of 6,383 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The increase was contributed by Occidental Mindoro (320 hectares), and Oriental Mindoro (4 hectares).

Average corn yield reached 4.50 metric tons per hectare 

The annual average corn yield of the MIMAROPA Region during April to June 2022 was at 4.50 metric tons per hectare. Among provinces in the region, only Occidental Mindoro exceeded the regional average yield at 4.69 metric tons per hectare. Meanwhile Romblon’s annual average yield of 3.03 metric tons per hectare posted the lowest average yield.

With respect to the average corn yield from April to June 2021, the regional average yield went down by 1.0 percent. This was due to the 2.5 percent decline in the yield from Occidental Mindoro.  On the other hand, significant increase in the average yield of corn was observed in the provinces of Oriental Mindoro (40.1 percent), Romblon (13.7 percent), and Marinduque (7.5 percent).

TECHNICAL NOTES

Corn Production Survey (CPS) is a major quarterly agricultural survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Its main objective is to generate estimates on corn production, area, yield, and other production-related data. Production data from this survey serves as direct inputs in the value of production in the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries, and to the computation of the Gross Domestic Product. In addition, this survey also supports the data needs of planners, policy and decision makers on corn, and stakeholders in the agricultural sector, particularly the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies such as Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), and the general public.

Data gathered in CPS are as follows: (1) production, area planted / harvested and yield by type of corn and by seed type; (2) usage of seeds, fertilizer and pesticides; 
(3) source of irrigation water and adequacy, monthly distribution of production and area harvested; (4) farm household disposition of production; and (5) area with standing crop, farmer’s planting intention for the quarter.

Definition of Terms

Corn production refers to the quantity of corn produced and actually harvested during the reference period. It includes those harvested but damaged, stolen, given away, consumed, given as harvesters’ and thresher’s shares, reserved, etc. Corn production from seed growers which are intended for seed purposes is excluded from the survey.

Two types of corn harvested are considered in corn production. These are as follows:

1.  White corn is a type of corn used primarily for human consumption. 

2.  Yellow corn is generally used as feed grains. It includes all types of corn other than white corn. 

Area harvested refers to the actual area from which harvests are realized. This excludes crop areas which were totally damaged. The harvest area refers to the effective area on corn where harvesting is done during the reference quarter.

Yield is an indicator of production derived by dividing the total production by the area harvested.