During July to September 2022, the total volume of corn production in the MIMAROPA Region was estimated at 29,491 metric tons. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro’s corn production of 19,459 metric tons got the highest share of about 66.0 percent in the regional production of corn. This was followed by the production in Palawan of 7,847 metric tons with a corresponding 26.6 percent share in the total corn production of the region. Meanwhile, the combined corn production from Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Marinduque of 2,185 metric tons was accounted to 7.4 percent share in the MIMAROPA’s total corn production.

A total of 26,136 metric tons of corns produced in the MIMAROPA Region were mostly yellow. This accounts to 88.6 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 95.0 percent, 93.5 percent, and 79.9 percent to the total corn production in their respective province. Meanwhile, corns produced in Marinduque and Romblon were predominantly white which accounted to 86.8 percent and 68.0 percent share of their total corn production.

Volume of corn production increased by 34.5 percent

MIMAROPA Region’s corn production of 29,491 metric tons during July to September 2022 went up by 7,560 metric tons or 34.5 percent with respect to the regional production of 21,931 metric tons from third quarter of 2021. Occidental Mindoro led the increase in production with additional 8,505 metric tons of corn, while Marinduque contributed 92 metric tons of produced corn.

Yellow corns produced within MIMAROPA Region during July to September 2022 was registered at 26,136 metric tons, a 51.7 percent upsurge relative to 17,231 metric tons recorded from the same quarter of the previous year. The increase was contributed by the production of yellow corns from Occidental Mindoro (9,608 metric tons), Romblon (148 metric tons), and Marinduque (54 metric tons).

Meanwhile, a decline by 1,344 metric tons in the production of white corns at 
3,355 metric tons was observed in the third quarter of 2022 from 4,700 metric tons production in the same quarter of the previous year. The decline was due to the cut back in production of white corns from Occidental Mindoro (1,103 metric tons), Romblon (184 metric tons), Palawan (91 metric tons), and Oriental Mindoro 
(5 metric tons).

Total corn area harvested expanded by 24.7 percent 

Total area harvested for all types of corn during July to September 2022 reached 7,459 hectares. Among provinces in the region, Occidental Mindoro recorded the largest area harvested at 4,390 hectares. This was followed by Palawan at 2,213 hectares. Meanwhile, Marinduque got the smallest area harvested of 163 hectares.

Total area harvested of the region rose by 24.7 percent or 1,479 hectares compared to the recorded harvested area of 5,980 hectares in the third quarter of 2021. The posted increase was contributed by the expansion in area harvested from Occidental Mindoro (1,808 hectares), and Marinduque (16 hectares).

During July to September 2022, a significant increase of 51.7 percent in the area harvested on yellow corns was noted. Yellow corns’ area harvested registered at 5,943 hectares in this quarter against 3,919 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The expansion in area harvested for yellow corns was contributed by Occidental Mindoro (2,147 hectares), Romblon (30 hectares), and Marinduque(12 hectares).

In contrast, white corns’ area harvested of 1,516 hectares during the third quarter of 2022 was 26.4 percent lower than the recorded area harvested of 2,061 hectares in the same quarter of the previous year. The decrease was due to the shrinkage in area harvested for white corns in Occidental Mindoro (339 hectares), Romblon (185 hectares), and Palawan (27 hectares).

Average corn yield reached 3.95 metric tons per hectare 

The annual average corn yield of the MIMAROPA Region during July to September 2022 was at 3.95 metric tons per hectare. Among provinces in the region, only Occidental Mindoro exceeded the regional average yield at 4.43 metric tons per hectare. Meanwhile Romblon’s annual average yield of 2.42 metric tons per hectare posted the lowest average yield.

With respect to the average corn yield from July to September 2021, the regional average yield went up by 7.8 percent. This was due to the increase in the yield from the provinces of Romblon (59.2 percent), Marinduque (16.4 percent), and Occidental Mindoro (4.5 percent).  On the other hand, the average yield of corn declined in Oriental Mindoro and Palawan at 19.6 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.

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.