During January to March 2022, the total volume of corn production in the MIMAROPA Region was estimated at 48,546 metric tons. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro’s corn production of 42,243 metric tons got the highest share of 87.0 percent in the regional production of corn. This was followed by the production in Palawan of 5,208 metric tons with a corresponding 10.7 percent share in the total corn production of the region. Meanwhile, the combined corn production from Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Marinduque of 1,095 metric tons was accounted to the remaining 2.26 percent share in the MIMAROPA’s total corn production.

A total of 46,490 metric tons of corns produced in the MIMAROPA Region were mostly yellow. This accounts to 95.8 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 98.7 percent, 86.0 percent, and 81.8 percent to the total corn production in their respective province. Meanwhile, corns produced in Romblon and Marinduque were predominantly white which accounted to 72.2 percent and 53.2 percent share of their total corn production.

Volume of corn production increased by 3.4 percent

MIMAROPA Region’s corn production of 48,546 metric tons during January to March 2022 was higher by 1,590 metric tons or 3.4 percent with respect to the regional production of 46,956 metric tons from first quarter of 2021. Occidental Mindoro led the increase by 1,423 metric tons or 3.48 percent rise in the regional corn production. This was followed by 406 metric tons upsurge from Romblon (353.04 percent), 110 metric tons increase from Oriental Mindoro (44.82 percent) and 60 metric tons addition from Marinduque (38.0 percent).

White corns produced within MIMAROPA Region during January to March 2022 was registered at 2,056 metric tons, a 17.7 percent increase relative to 1,747 metric tons recorded from the same quarter of the previous year. The upsurge was contributed by the additional production of white corns from Romblon (279 metric tons), Occidental Mindoro (102 metric tons), and Marinduque (44 metric tons).

An increase by 1,281 metric tons in the production of yellow corn at 46,490 metric tons was also observed in the first quarter of 2022 from 45,210 metric tons production in the same quarter of the previous year. The rise was due to the additional production of yellow corns from Occidental Mindoro (1,321 metric tons), Romblon (127 metric tons), Oriental Mindoro (121 metric tons) and Marinduque (16 metric tons).

Total corn area harvested expanded by 3.1 percent 

Total area harvested for all types of corn during January to March 2022 reached 11,018 hectares. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro recorded the largest area harvested at 9,050 hectares. Palawan followed at 1,583 hectares. Meanwhile, Marinduque got the smallest area harvested of 78 hectares.

Total area harvested of the region rose by 3.1 percent or 333 hectares compared to the region’s recorded harvested area of 10,685 hectares in the first quarter of 2021. The posted increase was contributed by the upsurge in area harvested from Occidental Mindoro (260 hectares), Romblon (118 hectares), and Marinduque (21 hectares).

During January to March 2022, an increase of 2.1 percent in the area harvested on yellow corns was noted. Yellow corns’ area harvested registered at 10,144 hectares in this quarter compared to 9,936 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The expansion of area harvested for yellow corns was contributed by Occidental Mindoro (225 hectares), Romblon (25 hectares), and Marinduque (1 hectare).

Likewise, white corns’ area harvested of 874 hectares during the first quarter of 2022 was 16.7 percent higher than the recorded area harvested of 749 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The increase was due to the additional area harvested for yellow corns in Romblon (93 hectares), Occidental Mindoro (35 hectares) , and Marinduque (20 hectares).

Average corn yield reached 4.41 metric tons per hectare 

The annual average corn yield of the MIMAROPA Region during January to March 2022 was at 4.41 metric tons per hectare. Among provinces in the region, only Occidental Mindoro exceeded the regional average yield at 4.67 metric tons per hectare. Meanwhile Marinduque’s annual average yield of 2.79 metric tons per hectare posted the lowest average yield.

With respect to the average corn yield from January to March 2021, the regional average yield slightly went up by 0.3 percent. This was contributed by a significant rise in the average yield in Oriental Mindoro (59.9 percent) and Romblon (59.3 percent). On the other hand, the province of Palawan exhibited a decline in their provincial yield by 4.2 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.